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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.

14 March 2012

China SignPost™ (洞察中国) #56–China’s Economic Environment: Implications for Military Development

Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “China’s Economic Environment: Implications for Military Development,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 56 (14 March 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Strategic Horizon 1B: The U.S.-China relationship will be central to international relations in the twenty-first century, as the two great Asia-Pacific powers compete, coexist, and cooperate across the full spectrum of national capabilities. While […]

14 March 2012

Sunday Book Review: Chinese Aerospace Power

Robert Farley, “Sunday Book Review: Chinese Aerospace Power,” Information Dissemination, 11 March 2012. 
Chinese Aerospace Power is a collection of essays generated at a December 2008 colloquium organized by the Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute. The collection is held together by a common focus on maritime oriented Chinese aerospace military capabilities. Edited by Andrew […]

13 March 2012

The European Union and the Modernisation of the People’s Liberation Army Navy: The Limits of Europe’s Strategic Irrelevance

Mathieu Duchâtel and Alexandre Sheldon-Duplaix, “The European Union and the Modernisation of the People’s Liberation Army Navy: The Limits of Europe’s Strategic Irrelevance,” China Perspective 4 (2011): 31-41.
This superb article on a vital but under-researched topic is well worth reading. One of its recommendations should receive particular attention in Washington: it’s time for the U.S. […]

13 March 2012

Big Sticks: China’s and America’s Global Strike Weapons

Steve Weintz, “Big Sticks: China’s and America’s Global Strike Weapons,” War is Boring, 6 March 2012.
…Today the … United States and China are developing special new conventional missiles, both intermediate- and long-range.
Both Chinese and American approaches change the flight path of the missiles from a purely ballistic trajectory to one where ballistic flight quickly gives […]

06 March 2012

China SignPost™ (洞察中国) #55–Near Seas “Anti-Navy” Capabilities, not Nascent Blue Water Fleet, Constitute China’s Core Challenge to U.S. and Regional Militaries

Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “Near Seas ‘Anti-Navy’ Capabilities, not Nascent Blue Water Fleet, Constitute China’s Core Challenge to U.S. and Regional Militaries,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 55 (6 March 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Strategic Horizon 1A: The U.S.-China relationship is central to international relations in the twenty-first century, as the two great Asia-Pacific powers compete, coexist, […]

04 March 2012

China’s Defense Spending Dilemma

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “China’s Defense Spending Dilemma,” China Real Time Report (中国事实报), Wall Street Journal, 5 March 2012.
China’s always-controversial defense budget announcement will attract particular notice this year.
While the U.S. implements potentially dramatic cuts to its defense spending growth, China is robustly increasing its military spending, which is officially set to grow at […]

04 March 2012

China’s Defense Spending to Rise 11.2% to 670.2 billion RMB (US$106.4 billion) in 2012

China’s defense budget to grow 11.2 pct in 2012: spokesman
BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) — China said Sunday it plans to raise its defense budget by 11.2 percent to 670 billion yuan (106.4 billion U.S. dollars) in 2012.
The year’s draft defense budget is 67.6 billion yuan (10.7 billion U.S. dollars) more than that of 2011, said […]

03 March 2012

5th Annual Tufts China-US Symposium (塔夫兹大学中美关系年会), 9-10 March

5th Annual Tufts China-US Symposium
Register for the Symposium NOW!
March 9-10th, 2012 in ASEAN auditorium at The Cabot Intercultural Center of Tufts University. 
The China-US Symposium, 塔夫兹大学中美关系年会, believes in building on the crossroads of ideas, nations, and people, at Tufts University.  To do this, we seek to bring the communities of Tufts and Boston, into close contact with […]

02 March 2012

Benefits for China in New East African Resource Rush

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Benefits for China in New East African Resource Rush,” China Real Time Report (中国事实报), Wall Street Journal, 2 March 2012.
A new great game is afoot as recently uncovered stores of mineral resources in East Africa create competition between Brazilian, Japanese, Indian, Irish, Anglo-Australian and Chinese investors.
Already a strategic region […]

28 February 2012

China’s Military Modernizes, Declares Regional Strength—Robust Investments in Hardware, Technology, and Modern Operational Concepts Yield Benefits

Clarence A. Robinson, Jr., “China’s Military Modernizes, Declares Regional Strength—Robust Investments in Hardware, Technology, and Modern Operational Concepts Yield Benefits,” Defense (Winter 2011): 112-17.
… the People’s Republic of China (PRC) continues … an ambitious and broad-based effort to transform [its] military. The principal A2AD capability involves conducting high-intensity regional military operations, according to Andrew S. […]

21 February 2012

Enter China’s Security Firms

Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “Enter China’s Security Firms,” The Diplomat, 21 February 2012.
Chinese private security companies are seeing an opportunity as the U.S. withdraws troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. But plenty of complications await them.
A security vacuum is developing around Chinese workers overseas. The recent kidnapping of 29 Chinese workers in Sudan […]

10 February 2012

China’s New Challenge: Protecting Its Citizens Abroad

Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “China’s New Challenge: Protecting Its Citizens Abroad,” China Real Time Report (中国事实报), Wall Street Journal, 10 February 2012.
Recent incidents in which a total of 54 Chinese citizens working in Sudan and Egypt were abducted — with one killed during a rescue attempt — highlight the increasing risks Chinese expatriates […]

09 February 2012

China SignPost™ (洞察中国) #54–Supersize Me: Rising Fast Food Sales Suggest China Will Keep Driving a Global Farm Commodity Boom

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Supersize Me: Rising Fast Food Sales Suggest China Will Keep Driving a Global Farm Commodity Boom,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 54 (9 February 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Chinese consumers are rapidly changing their diets as disposable income rises and fast food items from Western companies like Yum Brands are playing a […]

08 February 2012

Taking Mines Seriously: Mine Warfare in China’s Near Seas

Scott C. Truver, “Taking Mines Seriously: Mine Warfare in China’s Near Seas,” Naval War College Review, 65.2 (Spring 2012), 30-66.
A mine is a terrible thing that waits. The easy way is always mined. Any ship can be a minesweeper—once. Sea mines and the need to counter them have been constants for the U.S. Navy since […]

07 February 2012

China SignPost™ (洞察中国) #53–Cornering Commodities Markets: For China, Xstrata/Glencore deal would have larger impact than Facebook IPO

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Cornering Commodities Markets: For China, Xstrata/Glencore deal would have larger impact than Facebook IPO,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 53 (7 February 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Facebook’s plans to go public are a headline grabber, but in terms of fundamental global economic impact, the proposed US$90 billion merger between two Zug, Switzerland-based […]

07 February 2012

Captain Gordon A. Andrew, RAN, Reviews “Chinese Aerospace Power” in Australian Defence Force Journal

Captain Gordon A. Andrew, RAN, review of Andrew S. Erickson and Lyle J. Goldstein, eds., Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2011); in Australian Defence Force Journal 186 (November/December 2011): 100-101.
Chinese Aerospace Power is the fifth book in a series jointly published by the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) and […]

02 February 2012

Chinese Aerospace Power Listed in Survival

“Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles,” Brief Notices, Survival 54.1 (February-March 2012): 228.
In this analysis of Chinese aerospace developments, including its aircraft-carrier programme, unmanned aerial vehicles and air-launched cruise missiles, the authors explore the strategic implications of Chinese forces for the US Navy and the military balance in East Asia more generally.
Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving […]

30 January 2012

Chinese Aerospace Power Highlighted in GlobalSecurity.org Special Selections

Click here to see all 12 of GlobalSecurity.org’s Special Selections.
Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles (CMSI Vol. 5)
Andrew S. Erickson and Lyle J. Goldstein, eds., Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2011).
Japanese summary translation now available: 中国の航空宇宙パワー海洋任務への発展.
For a video introducing the volume’s contents, watch Prof. Andrew S. Erickson, Eight Bells […]

30 January 2012

Hu Jintao: A Man With A PLAN?

Walter Russell Mead, “Hu Jintao: A Man With A PLAN?” Via Meadia Blog, The American Interest, 24 January 2012.
… Nowhere is the dynamic relationship between the US and China more tense and more intimate than on the high seas, owing, as this WSJ article notes, to the amphibious ambitions accompanying China’s rise…. The authors highlight […]