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By Micah McCartney
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President Donald Trump appeared to take a swipe at China on Tuesday while boasting about American military power.
"No enemy will ever dream of threatening America's navy. There's no navy even close—not even close. You hear about some of them building ships, but nobody can do what we do. Nobody has what we have," Trump said in an address to service members aboard the forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington at its Japanese home port of Yokosuka.
Why It Matters
China boasts the world’s largest navy by hull count with over 370 ships and submarines. The People's Liberation Army Navy is launching nearly three ships for each one built by its U.S. counterpart, according to Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel Paparo.
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Analysts also say the force is rapidly narrowing the capability gap, in line with President Xi Jinping’s stated goal of building a "world-class" military capable of rivaling or surpassing the U.S. by mid-century.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry by email with a request for comment.
What To Know
Trump went on to praise the equipment found on U.S. vessels. "Nobody makes equipment like we do. Nobody makes the ammunition, the weapons, the missiles, planes—none of them," he said, apparently asserting his country maintains its qualitative edge over other naval powers, including Beijing.
"And if they do, the American sailor stands ready to crush them and sink them and wreck them and blast them into oblivion, right?" he added.
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While the U.S. Navy retains an edge in certain areas—such as the size and sophistication of its nuclear submarine fleet—China has made rapid progress in its modernization drive, with new aircraft carrier and destroyer programs that increasingly rival their American counterparts.
China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is currently undergoing sea trials and is expected to enter service in the near future. The flattop represents a major leap in capability, featuring electromagnetic catapults and other technologies previously limited to U.S. vessels.
What People Are Saying
Mark Rutte, secretary-general of NATO, stated last month during a defense summit in Prague: "When it comes to shipbuilding, and our navy—and particularly the U.S. Navy—I'm really worried. China now has more ships sailing than the U.S, and shipbuilding in the U.S. is not at a rate that they can anywhere catch up on what China is doing at the moment."
What Happens Next
Trump is in Japan for a three-day state visit ahead of an economic summit in South Korea, where he is slated to meet Xi. In addition to talks aimed at lowering trade tensions, the two are expected to discuss a range of topics including rare earths and Taiwan.
Shortly after taking office, Trump vowed to “resurrect” America’s stagnant shipbuilding capacity—both civilian and military.
Update 10/28/2025, 7:20 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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