What Happened
US Allies Counter China Threat With Modernization Plans
As China continues to expand its naval capabilities, US allies Japan and South Korea are scrambling to modernize their own naval forces. Japan is investing in Aegis System Equipped Vessels and converting its Izumo-class Helicopter-Destroyers into aircraft carriers, while South Korea is pursuing nuclear-powered submarines and a new class of destroyers. The scale of China’s naval expansion, with 332 warships as of 2024, has put pressure on East Asian economies to protect their seaborne trade. This development was first reported by Breaking Defense.