Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper said China had become the world's largest navy by numerical count, with more than 350 ships and submarines.
Notes on verification
Confirmed by multiple independent sources including Pentagon report language, Washington Examiner, GlobalSecurity.org/Sputnik, and naval-technology.com, all matching the 350-ship figure and Esper's public remarks at the RAND event.
Sources
- Secretary of Defense Engagement at RAND Corporation ( ... (defense.gov)
- https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/esper-lays-out-plans-for-expansion-and-high-tech-upgrade-of-navy-to-maintain-worldwide-superiority (washingtonexaminer.com)
- https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2020/09/mil-200916-sputnik01.htm (globalsecurity.org)
- https://www.naval-technology.com/features/china-boasts-worlds-largest-navy-us-dod-report/ (naval-technology.com)