Andrew S. Erickson

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “Digging In: Earthmover sales reflect risks to China’s economic growth,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 52 (17 January 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
–Earthmover sales are a useful economic indicator because China’s construction and fixed asset-driven economy is very heavy equipment-intensive. Also, construction machines are not a speculative asset in the way copper and other [...]

Continue Reading

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “China’s Growing Meat Consumption is Driving Corn Imports and Creating a New Strategic Dependency,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 51 (2 January 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
China will likely import 3.0 million tonnes of corn in the 2011/12 market year, more than triple the amount it took in 2010/11 (USDA).  As Chinese consumers eat [...]

Continue Reading

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “New Access for U.S. Forces in Australia: Is it driven by China?,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 50 (14 November 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
What is happening?
A substantial enhancement in US-Australia military ties first referred to approximately one year ago now appears to be materializing.  A range of media outlets report that President Obama’s [...]

Continue Reading

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “Electric Bikes are China’s Real Electric Vehicle Story,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 49 (7 November 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Along with its booming market for petroleum-fueled autos, China is also a global leader in promoting greater use of electric and alternative fuel vehicles. Automakers are responding to the government’s ambitious objective to have [...]

Continue Reading

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “Transparency is Not Just for the Military: Improved commodity data reporting from China good for Chinese and global consumers alike,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 48 (14 October 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Just last week, the China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association estimated the country’s copper reserves at year-end 2010 to have been 1.9 [...]

Continue Reading

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “A Chinese ‘Heart’ for Large Civilian and Military Aircraft: Strategic and commercial implications of China’s campaign to develop high-bypass turbofan jet engines,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 47 (19 September 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Deep Dive—Special In-Depth Report #3
This in-depth report analyzes China’s prospects for building large turbofan jet engines for civilian aircraft, and [...]

Continue Reading

Andrew Erickson and Gabe Collins, “A Smoking Cursor? New Window Opens on China’s Potential Cyberwarfare Development: CCTV 7 program raises new questions about Beijing’s support for hacking,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 46 (24 August 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
The positions expressed here are the authors’ personal views. They do not represent the U.S. Naval War College, Navy, [...]

Continue Reading

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “Tango for Trade, Samba for Sales: Strategic Implications of China’s Growing Investment and Commercial Ties in Latin America,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 45 (19 August 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Executive Summary
–China’s annual trade with Latin American countries is now worth at least US$118 billion per year, nearly 12 times larger than what it [...]

Continue Reading

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “China’s S-Curve Trajectory: Structural factors will likely slow the growth of China’s economy and comprehensive national power,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 44 (15 August 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Key Points:
 –China is likely to follow an S-Curve-shaped path of slowing growth as key internal and external challenges—including pollution, corruption, chronic diseases, water shortages, growing [...]

Continue Reading

Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “China’s ‘Starter Carrier’ Goes to Sea,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 43 (9 August 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
What’s happening
The long-awaited official announcement has finally been made.
The first confirmations came in Chinese: “China’s aircraft carrier platform is undergoing sea trials today (中国航母平台今日进行出海航行试验). Xinhua News: China’s aircraft carrier platform is undergoing sea trials on August [...]

Continue Reading