11 countries upgrade naval power amid South China Sea tensions

No fewer than 11 countries are upgrading their navies amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea, reports our Chinese-language sister paper China Times.

As could be expected, China and the United States are leading the charge. China's submarine fleet is expected to match that of the US by 2020 — in numbers, at least — with 78 subs. Many are to be stationed at the Yulin Naval Base along the southern coast of Hainan.

Despite continuing to increase its military budget every year, China's national defense spending still pales in comparison to the United States.

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