China's Naval fleet set to outstrip US' by 2020, says report

A new report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has suggested that Chinese Naval fleet will outnumber US' by 2020.

According to the Washington Times, the annual report asserts that within six years China will have 351 ships in its fleet and requests that Congress increase the US Pacific fleet up to 67 ships.

At present, the US has 289 deployable battle force ships.

The commission said in its report that China was pursuing a missile-centric strategy with the purpose of holding US aircraft carriers at high risk if they operate in China's near seas and thereby hinder their access to those waters in the event of a crisis.

It added that given China's growing navy and the US Navy's planned decline in the size of its fleet, the balance of power and presence in the region is shifting in China's favor, the report said.