Maritime Madness: China Has 5,500 Commercial Ships, America Has Under 100

You probably haven't heard a thing about it, but the U.S. is currently losing a separate war with China, and it's not even close. It's the battle over commercial shipping.

"They've (China) been very explicit, in that they wish to dominate global trade" said Robert Handfield, a supply chain management professor at N.C. State, "The Chinese have completely dominated it, and it's not just ships, but they also operate many of the ports in other parts of the world. So, this is a big problem for the U.S. and it's high time that we do start investing in ship building again."

Just how bad is it? According to President Trump's just released and comprehensive Maritime Action Plan, China currently has a fleet with 5,500 commercial ships. While the U.S. has less than 100.

"China has been doing this for a number of decades now, and moving very quietly to basically gain control over the world's shipping industry" Handfield told KTRH, "I think it's become a question of national security."

Simply put, it's time to make American ships again.