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Virginia Congressman Releases Statement in Response to Esper’s Shipbuilding Plan
According to the Department of Defense website, Esper announced the plan on Oct. 6 during the virtual Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments with the goal to have over 500 manned and unmanned ships in the fleet by 2045. Of that, Esper says the plan is to reach 355 traditional Battle Force ships by 2035.
In the News
Esper Unveils New Details for Bigger Navy, Plans Major Shipbuilding Investment
Defense Secretary Mark Esper today said he has laid out a "credible path" for a new Navy of more than 500 manned and unmanned ships to deter China in the future, necessitating significant new investments in shipbuilding from funds "harvested" elsewhere in the Pentagon. Esper, who spoke at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, said "Battle Force 2045" would position the Navy to grow to more than 355 traditional combat force ships by 2035, officially punting a key campaign...
In the News
Mark Esper: US Must Expand Fleet by 2045 to Retain Naval Dominance
Mark Esper, secretary of the Department of Defense (DoD) and a 2020 Wash100 Award recipient, has said the U.S. Navy must launch fleet expansion efforts to ensure American military dominance against China.
In the News
Secretary of Defense Remarks at CSBA on the NDS and Future Defense Modernization Priorities
Transcript of remarks by Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper and Tom Mahnken, President and CEO, Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments
Analysis
Aiki in the South China Sea: Fresh Asymmetric Approaches and Sea Lane Vulnerabilities
Over the last decade, stability in the South China Sea (SCS) has progressively deteriorated because of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) actions. China’s leadership has followed a long-term, multi-pronged strategy. On the military front they have constructed a “Great Wall of Sand”1 through island building, deployed an underwater “Great Wall of Sensors;”2 and completed detailed planning and preparations to establish air defense identification zones3(ADIZ) in the SCS. Despite assurances from the highest levels of the CCP leadership, they have militarized islands in the SCS,4 deployed bombers to the Paracels5 and built up military forces in the region.6 Diplomatically, the CCP has ignored international legal rulings, continued to assert sovereignty over disputed territories,7 and sought to dissuade, protest, and prevent Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPS).8 On the commercial front, the CCP has encouraged its large fishing fleet to overfish within other states’ exclusive economic zones (EEZs).9 When confronted, they have often harassed local fisherman and even purposely collided with them, leading to sinking vessels.10
Press Releases
CSBA Announces 2020 Congressional Defense Seminar Series
CSBA has launched the second season of its annual Congressional Defense Seminar Series. This acclaimed and highly selective program will bring together professional staff members from Congress for an evening series of topical seminars that aims to provide staffers with the tools to master the conceptual foundations of defense policy as well as the intricacies of contemporary national security processes. The forum comprises six weekly sessions beginning in October 2020 and will feature senior CSBA scholars and outside experts on national security policy.