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Andrew S. Erickson China's rapid development is reshaping the world in all dimensions. Chinese language open sources offer insights into these critical trends. While such materials are increasing constantly in number, diversity, and sophistication, only a fraction is available in English. The analyses available here, many based on sources not previously considered outside China, are designed to help bridge that gap--and thereby increase understanding of the most dynamic great power in the international system today.

25 October 2023

Reaping the Whirlwind: How China’s Coercive Annexation of Taiwan Could Trigger Nuclear Proliferation in Asia and Beyond

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, Reaping the Whirlwind: How China’s Coercive Annexation of Taiwan Could Trigger Nuclear Proliferation in Asia and Beyond (Houston, TX: Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, 25 October 2023).
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FULL-TEXT PDF.

Five years ago — and certainly a decade ago — coercive annexation of Taiwan by the People’s […]

24 October 2023

Presented at NBR Event: “Assessing U.S.-China Deterrence Dynamics & Crisis Management”

“Assessing U.S.-China Deterrence Dynamics & Crisis Management,” symposium hosted virtually by National Bureau of Asian Research, 11 October 2023.
Click here to watch the event on YouTube.

When Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Beijing this June, his Chinese counterparts once again rejected an offer to establish a military line of communication between Washington and Beijing, an […]

23 October 2023

Apply Now! RAND Seeks China Researcher & Analyst

The RAND Corporation is hiring two China-specific positions: a China researcher position for mid-career or senior researchers and a China analyst position for early career folks.
China Defense & Security Researcher (mid-career/senior position)

Position description
RAND advises a variety of national security clients, including a wide array of DoD organizations, U.S. allies and partners, and foundations, on policy-level […]

19 October 2023

U.S. Department of Defense Annual Reports to Congress on China’s Military Power—2000 to 2023—Download Complete Set + Read Highlights Here

Now that the Department of Defense (DoD) has just released the 2023 China Military Power Report (CMPR)… you can access the Full Text & accompanying documents below. Since I couldn’t find a single-source location on the Internet, and the Pentagon has deactivated some of the previous links, I decided to make my own. Now you can […]

11 October 2023

O’Rourke’s Latest CRS Report—“China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities”—USG/N Info on PLAN Ships & Projections of #s Lead thru 2040

Latest and greatest…with many references to CMSI reports, including the Quick Look Summary from, and revised versions of papers presented at, our 11-13 April 2023 Conference—“Chinese Undersea Warfare: Development, Capabilities, Trends”! As part of Ronald O’Rourke’s continuous incremental improvements, this # 26X (!) edition of his report on PRC naval modernization incorporates numbers provided by […]

03 October 2023

New Foreword! Latest “Modern Chinese Maritime Forces” Offers Vital Updates

China under Xi is steaming full speed ahead at sea. Navigate today’s troubled Indo-Pacific waters by consulting the latest version of Modern Chinese Maritime Forces—just released! This second edition includes new sections for PLA Army (pp. 63–75) and PLA Air Force (pp. 76–78) watercraft; the latest data updates, particularly concerning nuclear-powered submarines (pp. 20–22); and […]

30 September 2023

Running the Gauntlet: Holding the Line on Taiwan & Beyond through This Decade of Maximum Danger

My latest presentation—summarizes my take on what we’re up against & what we must do, urgently, to hold the line on Taiwan and beyond through the 2020s, a most decisive decade!
Andrew S. Erickson “Running the Gauntlet: Holding the Line on Taiwan & Beyond through This Decade/FYDP of Maximum Danger,” Keynote presentation for Foreign Challenges – […]

29 September 2023

China Maritime Report #31: “China’s Submarine Industrial Base: State-Led Innovation with Chinese Characteristics”

Dr. Kirchberger applies knowledge and methodology from Sinological scholarship, policy expertise, and technical-industrial insights from three years as a naval analyst with shipbuilder TKMS!
Sarah Kirchberger, China’s Submarine Industrial Base: State-Led Innovation with Chinese Characteristics, China Maritime Report 31 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, September 2023).

About the Author
Dr. Sarah Kirchberger is Academic […]

28 September 2023

New NBR Volume: “China’s Military Decision-making in Times of Crisis and Conflict”

Important new book! Cutting-edge contributions from innovative authors on critical topics of concern—could hardly be more relevant today!
Book from the People’s Liberation Army Conference

China’s Military Decision-making in Times of Crisis and Conflict

Edited by Roy D. Kamphausen
September 26, 2023 // The National Bureau of Asian Research

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FULL-TEXT PDF.

China’s Military Decision-making in Times […]

27 September 2023

Silicon Hegemon: Could China Take Over Taiwan’s Semiconductor Industry Without Invading?

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, Silicon Hegemon: Could China Take Over Taiwan’s Semiconductor Industry Without Invading? (Houston, TX: Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, 27 September 2023).
The views expressed here are those of the authors alone, and do not represent the positions of any organization with which they are currently, or have been, affiliated.
CLICK HERE TO READ […]

06 September 2023

Pathbreaking Position! Apply to become 1st Research Professor of China Military Studies at Army War College Strategic Studies Institute’s new China Center!

Apply here to become first-ever Research Professor of China Military Studies at The United States Army War College’s brand new China Landpower Studies Center (CLSC)! CLSC will be similar to the centers at other professional military educational institutions such as National Defense University, Air University, and the Naval War College.

By bringing cutting-edge insights regarding PRC […]

17 August 2023

China Maritime Report #30: “A Brief Technical History of PLAN Nuclear Submarines”

Christopher P. Carlson and Howard Wang, A Brief Technical History of PLAN Nuclear Submarines, China Maritime Report 30 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, August 2023).
About the Authors
Christopher Carlson is a retired Navy Reserve Captain and Department of Defense naval systems engineer. He began his navy career as a submariner but transitioned […]

22 July 2023

China Maritime Report #29: “PLAN Mine Countermeasures, Platforms, Training & Civil-Military Integration”

Unique insights on the latest PRC military maritime capabilities and trends from two brilliant, cutting-edge researchers, based on one of the very best papers delivered at CMSI’s April 2023 “Chinese Undersea Warfare” conference!
Brian Waidelich and George Pollitt, PLAN Mine Countermeasures, Platforms, Training, and Civil-Military Integration, China Maritime Report 29 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China […]

03 July 2023

2nd Edition! Latest “Modern Chinese Maritime Forces” Offers Important New Content

China under Xi is steaming full speed ahead at sea. Navigate today’s troubled Indo-Pacific waters by consulting the latest version of Modern Chinese Maritime Forces—just released! This second edition includes new sections for PLA Army (pp. 63–75) and PLA Air Force (pp. 76–78) watercraft; the latest data updates, particularly concerning nuclear-powered submarines (pp. 21–22); and […]

03 July 2023

Honored to Meet with President Tsai Ing-wen as Member of Wilson Center Delegation!

Honored to meet President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016 and 2023—bookends to a historic presidency.

It was wonderful to discuss key issues with a great leader and hear her insights on 29 June 2023 as part of the Wilson Center’s week-long delegation to Taiwan.

Official news release:

President Tsai Meets Delegation from the Wilson Center
29 June 2023
On the afternoon […]

22 June 2023

China Maritime Report #28: “Bitterness Ends, Sweetness Begins: Organizational Changes to the PLAN Submarine Force Since 2015”

Michael Dahm and Alison Zhao, Bitterness Ends, Sweetness Begins: Organizational Changes to the PLAN Submarine Force Since 2015, China Maritime Report 28 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, June 2023).

About the Authors
Michael Dahm is a principal intelligence analyst at the MITRE Corporation where he focuses on Indo-Pacific security issues and challenges presented […]

12 June 2023

Taiwan Defense Ministry’s Translation of “China’s Maritime Gray Zone Operations”

Andrew S. Erickson and Ryan D. Martinson, eds., China’s Maritime Gray Zone Operations (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2019; paperback 15 January 2023).

Paperback edition released 15 January 2023!
As with the previous six volumes in our “Studies in Chinese Maritime Development” series, an Amazon Kindle edition is available.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VOLUME INFORMATION.
Sample Chapters:

Andrew S. Erickson and Ryan […]

09 June 2023

CMSI China Maritime Report #27: “PLA Navy Submarine Leadership—Factors Affecting Operational Performance”

Roderick Lee, PLA Navy Submarine Leadership—Factors Affecting Operational Performance, China Maritime Report 27 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, June 2023).

About the Author
Roderick Lee is the Director of Research at the Air University’s China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI). Prior to joining CASI, he served as an analyst with the United States Navy […]

30 May 2023

The China Maritime Militia Bookshelf: U.S. Government Coverage, SECNAV Guidance, Official Video—& More!

Andrew S. Erickson, “Tracking China’s ‘Little Blue Men’—A Comprehensive Maritime Militia Compendium,” China Analysis from Original Sources 以第一手资料研究中国, 30 May 2023.

American & Allied knowledge of the PRC’s Third Sea Force has come a long way since my outstanding Naval War College colleague Instructor Conor Kennedy & I began our focused research following his arrival in Newport in 2014—now […]