Is the US Navy already behind China's navy?

Why have American leaders not been forced to explain how the US Navy reached its present position relative to China?

The May 2026 assessment places responsibility partly on Congress and distinguishes China's numerical growth from a still-existing American qualitative advantage.

Responsibility for the procurement position is assigned partly to Congress because it controls funding decisions alongside executive and naval authorities. The comparison then separates ship numbers from qualitative capability. In this May 2026 assessment, the US Navy retains an overall qualitative advantage despite substantial Chinese expansion. Chinese submarine development is expected to narrow that advantage, with newer boats described as a major improvement over earlier noisy designs. This is a dated assessment of a changing balance.