At the end of World War II, the United States had nearly 1,000 shipyards building and maintaining vessels for both military and commercial use. But now, according to US Congressman Michael Waltz, that number has dropped to just about 20. This sharp decline has raised alarms about the state of the US shipbuilding industry, which was once a key part of America's defense and economic strength.

During a virtual discussion with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Waltz explained how the US shipbuilding industry has shrunk dramatically over the years. In the early 1980s, there were still over 300 shipyards, which was already a big drop from World War II. But the last few decades have been especially tough for the industry, and now, with only 20 shipyards left, the US is struggling to keep up.

What makes this situation more troubling is that while the US shipbuilding industry is shrinking, China’s is booming. Just this year, China ordered over 1,500 new ships...