[Defense](/Politics/Defense)
Building a boat a year, Tokyo adjusts fleet size by adjusting ship retirement age
A submarine is seen in the dock of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Kobe, Japan. Mitsubishi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries take turns delivering a submarine a year to the Ministry of Defense. (Photo by Hiromasa Matsuura)
KEN MORIYASU
WASHINGTON -- As the U.S. struggles to keep up with China's growing maritime might, lawmakers in Washington are exploring ways to address the country's shipbuilding constraints, including adopting Japan's method of producing a set number of submarines every year.
Adopting Japan's approach was proposed at a congressional hearing on Tuesday.