Leave Behind the Carrier Fleet and the Jones Act

American shipbuilding was once the pinnacle of the world. Now, the US holds only 1 percent of global ship production. 

To face a growing China threat, America needs ships. Not only does America need ships, but the current fleet poses a dire risk in great power competition. Due to improved missile capabilities, the US.. must leave behind the carrier-centric fleet and adopt a more varied model. Such a task requires robust shipbuilding. 

However, a dated law holds the US unable to acquire the capacity needed. American interests benefit from the rules-based order. To deter unruly Chinese action, the US must have sufficient power projection. Therefore, hindrances in our Navy present a large threat to the American people. 

Section 27 of The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act, came about to prepare the merchant marine for a wartime economy. The Jones Act requires that all shipping between US ports be US-crewed and US owned. 

The Act intends to bolster US shipyards and merchant marine, but in fact, merely drives up shipping costs. There is a landslide of issues created, but mostly important, The Jones Act makes it nearly impossible for the United States to acquire foreign ships. 

The United States can no longer produce the ships needed to deter a Chinese threat. 

Since The Jones Act reduces the capacity of our fleet, it is a grave threat to national security. If the US must partner with its allies in shipbuilding, the increased volume of our fleet would affect the Indo-Pacific  Repealing the Jones Act will foster American industry and preparation for a China threat.

While some forms of protectionism can foster American industry, the harsh nature of the Jones Act limits American maritime capacity with little merit. Though some might argue that the Jones Act eased the transition to a wartime economy, this overlooks American shipbuilding’s reliance on foreign components. Opening shipbuilding to our allies will not only help America procure ships, but it will also foster our own shipbuilding. The free market fosters competition, which will produce a more efficient market in America. Rejecting the globally intertwined nature of the economy does nothing but harm to American security. 

Additionally, carrier-centric doctrine is outdated and must contain more volume. If a carrier were to sink, the blowback in political will would be far too high. Carriers are by no means obsolete but should not be the sole focus of doctrine.

To address this, the US needs to project power in volume in the Indo-Pacific. The PLA Navy currently outnumbers the US Navy in volume of ships. Though the US Navy maintains superior firepower, addressing a Chinese threat in the Indo-Pacific will be difficult due to China's A2/AD capabilities. Therefore, the United States should move to a model, such as the Flex Fleet, that embraces the Missile Age and uses a mix of small and large platforms. If we move away from carrier-centrism and employ South Korean shipbuilding, our fleet can better distribute lethality and deplete enemy ISR. By repealing the Jones Act, we can better deter China and improve our fleet.