Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the U.S. efforts to revitalize its shipbuilding industry in response to China's dominance in the sector, with U.S. lawmakers seeking partnerships with South Korea and Japan to enhance American shipbuilding capabilities [1][4][8] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Andy Kim are visiting South Korea and Japan to discuss potential joint ventures with major shipbuilding companies, aiming to build and maintain non-combat vessels for the U.S. Navy in the Indo-Pacific region [1][2][4] - The article notes that U.S. shipbuilding capacity has significantly declined since the Iraq War, with aging docks and high maintenance costs leading to delays in vessel repairs, emphasizing the need for rebuilding U.S. shipbuilding capabilities [1][5][8] Group 2 - The U.S. Navy's auxiliary fleet is aging and insufficient, with many shipbuilding projects delayed by one to three years, highlighting the urgency for collaboration with foreign partners [5][7] - The article mentions that in 2024, U.S. commercial shipbuilding will account for only 0.1% of global production, while China will account for 53%, prompting the U.S. to seek technological assistance from South Korea and Japan [7][8] - Despite efforts to attract foreign investment, the U.S. shipbuilding industry faces fundamental challenges, including restrictive protectionist laws and a fragmented domestic supply chain, making it difficult to quickly revitalize the sector [8][9]

Group 1 - In June 2025, Japanese shipbuilders received a total of 23 orders amounting to 1.355 million GT, a decrease of 36.9% compared to 54 orders totaling 2.148 million GT in June 2024 [2] - From April to June 2025, the total number of orders received by Japanese shipbuilders was 55 vessels totaling 2.867 million GT, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 39.8% [2] - In the first half of 2025, Japanese shipbuilders secured a total of 94 orders amounting to 5.0232 million GT, representing a significant year-on-year decline of 68.1% [2] Group 2 - Despite strong global demand for new shipbuilding, Japanese shipyards are unable to take on more orders due to a lack of available shipbuilding slots [3] - Japanese shipbuilders' market share for new orders in the first half of 2025 was less than 10%, amid strong competition from Chinese and Korean shipbuilders [3] - As of the end of June 2025, Japanese shipbuilders had a backlog of 620 vessels totaling 29.99 million GT, which is sufficient to sustain approximately 3.5 years of production based on 2024 completion rates [3]