Analysts urge the US Navy to collaborate with allies like South Korea and Japan on warship design and construction to counter China's expanding fleet. Despite domestic opposition, outsourcing shipbuilding is considered crucial for the US to regain a naval advantage.

Washington’s plans to work with allies on warship design and construction face steep opposition at home, but analysts warn that the US must outsource shipbuilding to South Korea and Japan if it wants to close its gap in fleet size with China. The US budget submission for the next financial year includes US$1.85 billion for a study on outsourcing parts of the design and construction of frigates and destroyers, according to media reports last month. USNI News, the news service of the US Naval...