Part 8/11:
China’s military continues to assert its presence with its largest-ever naval exercises in the Western Pacific, involving the aircraft carrier Shandong alongside over 20 warships. The operations took place in waters straddling Taiwan, the Philippines, and near U.S. territory Guam, signaling a show of force amid rising regional tensions.
Over the past decade, China has significantly invested in expanding and modernizing its navy, which now boasts over 700 vessels—making it the largest navy in the world. By comparison, the U.S. maintains around 500 ships but remains a dominant force globally. Russia and North Korea follow behind in fleet size but are no less assertive.