The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76) conducted a high-stakes operation near Scarborough Shoal on Aug. 13, prompting a strong Chinese response that labeled the U.S. vessel’s actions as a violation of sovereignty. The incident highlights the growing confrontation in the Indo-Pacific as both nations test the limits of their military capabilities. U.S. military analysts emphasize the need to enhance alliances and increase production of critical military assets to counter the growing Chinese naval power. Meanwhile, the Chinese military is rapidly expanding its naval forces, with the People’s Liberation Army Navy now fielding over 370 ships, the world’s largest fleet by hull count.
The confrontation near Scarborough Shoal is part of a broader pattern of U.S.-China military posturing in the region. Recent incidents include multiple crashes of U.S. naval aircraft in the South China Sea, raising concerns about the safety and operational readiness of the U.S. military in contested waters. These events have intensified discussions within the U.S. military about the future of naval strategy, with growing calls to focus on distributed, missile-heavy fleets built around submarines and unmanned vessels rather than large aircraft carriers. The Pentagon’s 2024 China Military Power Report warns that China could surpass the U.S. in military capabilities by 2027, further complicating the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific.
Analysts suggest that the U.S. still maintains an edge in advanced technology, particularly in its submarine forces, which are critical for undersea warfare. The U.S. Navy operates the world’s most advanced submarine force, including a fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines capable of operating undetected for months. However, production delays and industrial base challenges are hampering efforts to maintain this advantage. Meanwhile, China is making progress in developing a more sophisticated naval and submarine force, including the introduction of new nuclear-powered attack submarines and ballistic-missile carriers. The race for undersea dominance is intensifying, with both nations investing heavily in advanced technology and strategic positioning to gain the upper hand in potential future conflicts.
The U.S. and China also compete for control over critical undersea infrastructure, including global fiber-optic cables that carry most of the world’s internet traffic and financial transactions. These cables are increasingly viewed as potential targets or intelligence assets in the event of a regional conflict. The competition over these underwater communication networks adds a new dimension to the naval rivalry, as both nations seek to secure their information advantages and control over global data flows. This multifaceted contest reflects a broader shift in global power dynamics, with the Indo-Pacific emerging as a key arena for military and technological supremacy.