By Tom Sharpe*
As the lunar new year arrives in 2026, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) continues to grow at an eye-watering rate. With approximate warship numbers nearing 400 and tonnage passing 3.2 million, China has for some while had the world’s largest fleet by vessel count: though the US Navy still leads in overall tonnage at 4.5 million tons, perhaps a more relevant metric. The USN also maintains a technological advantage and while that gap is closing also, the Americans have a huge amount more operational experience.
