Don't blow about 11 aircraft carriers! China's Navy shows its hard power, with 2 Type 055 and 1 Type 052DG entering service! The U.S. maritime hegemony is declining, and it can no longer hold the maritime supremacy in the Asia-Pacific.
Recently, the Eastern Theater Command has officially announced major news: the East Sea Fleet has formally commissioned 2 Type 055 destroyers and 1 latest Type 052DG destroyer, significantly enhancing China's surface combat forces. Western institutions have updated their data, indicating that China's current active surface ship tonnage has reached 780,000 tons, approximately 91% of the U.S. Navy's, leading to the phrase "90% of the U.S." rapidly going viral. Although this statistical method is not comprehensive, it clearly illustrates a fact: the global maritime order has been completely rewritten, and the U.S. can no longer maintain maritime supremacy in the Asia-Pacific.
Let's first look at the three newly added main ships, each of which is a national treasure. The Type 055 destroyers have a full-load displacement exceeding 13,000 tons, featuring full stealth design and dual-band active phased array radar, with long detection range and strong anti-jamming capability, capable of locking onto hundreds of targets simultaneously. The core highlight is the 112-cell 850mm large-caliber vertical launch system (VLS), compatible with cold and hot launches and various missiles, capable of carrying the YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship missile, with a range over 1,000 miles and a terminal speed of 10 Mach, known as an aircraft carrier killer. From design, propulsion to weapons, the Type 055 is entirely domestically developed, with comprehensive performance ranking first globally, serving as the core escort for aircraft carrier groups and also as an independent long-range operation flagship.
The other Type 052DG upgrade-type destroyer is called the "smaller Type 055." It has upgraded new phased array radar, significantly improving anti-stealth and anti-saturation attack capabilities; extended the deck to accommodate the Zhi-20 anti-submarine helicopter, greatly enhancing underwater detection and combat capabilities; it also features an 850mm large-caliber VLS, capable of launching hypersonic missiles, offering high cost-effectiveness and fast construction speed, making it a crucial force in our long-range operations. With these three ships joining the East Sea Fleet, it means that our regional deterrence, air defense, anti-missile, and long-range anti-ship capabilities in the Taiwan Strait and East China Sea have achieved a leap forward, significantly boosting our deterrent power.
According to statistics from Western institutions, China's active surface ship tonnage is 780,000 tons, while the U.S. has 850,000 tons, with a negligible gap. Looking solely at the number of guided-missile destroyers, we already have 10 Type 055s and 35 Type 052D series, plus other main destroyers and frigates, forming a complete long-range operational system. Although the U.S. has more than 70 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, most are old, with outdated designs and almost exhausted upgrade potential.
Many people are obsessed with the U.S.'s 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, believing they have overwhelming quantity and are invincible. However, naval warfare is never just about quantity; where and how it is fought are key. The U.S. Navy is deployed globally, with forces spread across the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean, and can only mobilize about half of its strength to the Asia-Pacific. In contrast, China's navy operates from its home base, concentrating all its forces at home, fighting on familiar ground, with a complete system and secure logistics, creating an absolute numerical advantage within the First Island Chain.
The real determinant of victory is not just tonnage, but the quality of the VLS. Although the U.S. Navy has a larger number of VLS, its main MK-41 VLS has a diameter of only 635 mm, small size, poor compatibility, and cannot accommodate large hypersonic missiles, resulting in severe deficiencies in anti-ship capabilities. China's VLS has a diameter of 850 mm, larger size, sufficient redundancy, and can easily carry long-range air defense, land-attack cruise, and hypersonic anti-ship missiles. Data shows that China's total VLS cross-sectional area reaches 95% of the U.S., and actual firepower projection capacity is basically equal, with the quality advantage fully offsetting the numerical disadvantage.
The biggest weakness of the U.S. is its overall decline in shipbuilding industry. Warships age quickly, new ships are delayed, costs soar, and shipyard capacity is insufficient. The Arleigh Burke class is a 40-year-old platform with no room for upgrades; the Zumwalt is overly extravagant, with only three built; the next generation of destroyers has yet to be realized. In contrast, China has the world's largest shipbuilding capacity, with fast ship updates, rapid technological iteration, and controlled costs. The Type 055 and Type 052DG are being mass-produced, showing a "饺子" (resembling dumplings) situation. With this shift, the U.S. Navy's advantages are gradually shrinking, and its decline is becoming increasingly evident.
We must清醒ly acknowledge: globally, the U.S. Navy is still the strongest in overall strength. It has a significant advantage in the number of aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered submarines, and long-range deployment capabilities in the short term. But advantage does not equal superiority. In this critical region of the Asia-Pacific, China has an asymmetric absolute advantage. Land-based anti-ship ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, shore-based aviation, and a complete radar early warning system form an integrated land-sea-air-space combat network. Once the U.S. aircraft carrier battle group enters the First Island Chain, it falls within our multiple strike ranges. Even if the U.S. has 11 aircraft carriers, they cannot function effectively in near-sea areas.
In the past, the U.S. used its maritime hegemony to show off and interfere arbitrarily. Now, this logic doesn't work at China's doorstep. China's navy does not seek global hegemony, but it has the ability and confidence to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. Western military experts have also had to admit: the U.S. can no longer seize maritime supremacy in the Asia-Pacific.
From coastal defense to distant sea protection, China's navy has completed in a few years what other countries took decades to achieve. The newly added Type 055 and Type 052DG are not just three warships, but concentrated manifestations of industrial strength, technological level, and comprehensive national power. The U.S. is still relying on old assets and stockpiles, while we are building new ships and focusing on growth; the U.S. is still engaging in hegemonic coercion, while we have established a solid regional defense system.
Historical trends are irreversible. The U.S. maritime hegemony is gradually declining, and China's navy is steadily moving into deep blue waters. At home, we fear no opponent; in the distant seas, we are steadily expanding our capabilities. Whether it's 11 U.S. aircraft carriers or global deployment, they are useless in the Asia-Pacific. China does not want conflict, but it will not fear provocation. Those who dare to provoke at sea will pay a heavy price.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1859651308435655/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.