Naval Power

This is a useful discussion of US and Chinese naval power since there is so much discussion of who has a more powerful navy.

One, China is a threat to our ships if we sail too close to their shore where they have missile-armed boats and land-based missiles and planes to fight us. We'd need to keep our bigger ships back and use our own long-range air and missile power--plus submarines--to hammer what the Chinese put to sea or send into the air, backed by land-based power on Guam and in Japan, plus the ships of local allies who have no choice but to fight close to China. Perhaps we'd have to hit Chinese mainland bases, too. Only then could we expose our larger ships to potential attack by sailing closer to China.

But two, our naval power is definitely more powerful than China's The mere fact that the scenarios cover US forces sailing close to China instead of the reverse should tell you a lot. We are stronger than China.

Still, determining who wins or loses a particular battle depends on more than just a sound judgment of who has a stronger navy. China could win a naval campaign if we fight on China's terms in China's backyard. Remember, in the particular scenario of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, China wins by capturing Taiwan. So China doesn't actually need to defeat our Navy--just delay it long enough for Chinese forces to compel a Taiwanese capitulation.