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.
Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “China’s J-15 No Game Changer,” The Diplomat, 23 June 2011.
Following is a guest entry from Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, co-founders of China Sign Post.
Gen. Chen Bingde, Chief of Staff of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has reportedly said that, for the first time, a Chinese ‘aircraft carrier is […]
Under the leadership of Profs. Joe Maiolo and Thomas Mahnken, as well as Prof. Timothy Hoyt, Journal of Strategic Studies boasts a rare combination of intellectual rigor, empirical richness, and policy relevance that other political science- and history-related publications would do well to emulate. Led by noted China technology scholar Dr. Tai Ming Cheung, whose […]
Dennis J. Blasko, “‘Technology Determines Tactics’: The Relationship between Technology and Doctrine in Chinese Military Thinking,” Journal of Strategic Studies, 34.3 (June 2011): 355-81.
Does ‘doctrine drive technology’ or does ‘technology drive doctrine’? For the United States with its advanced industrial and technological base, many examples of ‘doctrine driving technology’ can be found. For the […]
Tai Ming Cheung, “The Chinese Defense Economy’s Long March from Imitation to Innovation,” Journal of Strategic Studies, 34.3 (June 2011): 325-54.
China’s defense economy has been vigorously developing a comprehensive set of innovation capabilities that will eventually allow it to join the world’s top tier of military technological powers. China’s target is to catch up by […]
Leo Lewis, “Diabetes May Thwart China’s Grand Plan,” The Australian, 21 June 2011.
MORE than 92 million Chinese live under the cloud of diabetes. It is also why Beijing’s grand visions for flotillas of aircraft carriers and fleets of stealth fighters could ultimately be crushed by a simple can of fizzy drink.
What this statistic shows […]
Thomas G. Mahnken, “China’s Anti-Access Strategy in Historical and Theoretical Perspective,” Journal of Strategic Studies, 34.3 (June 2011): 299 – 323.
This article views China’s development of anti-access capabilities against the backdrop of the theory and history of military innovation. It begins with a discussion of the process of military innovation, as well as the indicators […]
Michael C. Horowitz, The Diffusion of Military Power: Causes and Consequences for International Politics (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2010).
The Diffusion of Military Power examines how the financial and organizational challenges of adopting new methods of fighting wars can influence the international balance of power. Michael Horowitz argues that a state or actor wishing to […]
Aaron Shraberg, “Near-Term Missions for China’s Maiden Aircraft Carrier,” Jamestown China Brief, 11.11 (17 June 2011).
As China’s maiden aircraft carrier nears its sea trials one question that evades analysts’ minds is why China is building a carrier. For many of the carrier’s potential missions: from “recovering” Taiwan; to “solving” the Paracel, Spratly and Diaoyu (Senkaku) […]
Andrew Forbes, review of Andrew S. Erickson, Lyle J. Goldstein, and Carnes Lord, eds., China Goes to Sea: Maritime Transformation in Comparative Historical Perspective (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, July 2009) in The Northern Mariner 20 (2010), 430-31.
The economic rise of China, which has helped fund its military growth and modernisation, has polarised elements of the analytical […]
Jonathan Marcus, “China Extending Military Reach,” BBC News, 14 June 2011.
A maritime arms race is under way in the South China Sea. Beijing is rapidly developing a host of military capabilities that will enable it to project power well beyond its own shores. …
According to Dr Andrew Erickson, a China expert at the US Naval […]
Conrad Waters, author, Seaforth World Naval Review 2012; review of Andrew S. Erickson, Lyle J. Goldstein, and Carnes Lord, eds., China Goes to Sea: Maritime Transformation in Comparative Historical Perspective (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, July 2009) in “Naval Books of the Year,” John Jordan and Stephen Dent, eds., Warship 2011 (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, June 2011), […]
For analysis of China’s first carrier aircraft, see Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson,“Flying Shark” Gaining Altitude: How might new J-15 strike fighter improve China’s maritime air warfare ability?,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 38 (7 June 2011).
Further background on Chinese aircraft carrier development is available in Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “The ‘Flying Shark’ Prepares to […]
Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “‘Flying Shark’ Gaining Altitude: How Might New J-15 Strike Fighter Improve China’s Maritime Air Warfare Ability?” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 38 (7 June 2011).
For further background on Chinese aircraft carrier development, see also Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “The ‘Flying Shark’ Prepares to Roam the Seas: Strategic Pros […]
Liu Chang, “PLA Chief Confirms Vessel is ‘Under Construction’,” Global Times, 8 June 2011.
The chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Chen Bingde has confirmed that China’s first aircraft carrier is under construction. However, an official from the PLA also added that the carrier will not enter other nations’ territories after […]
Barry D. Watts, “The Maturing Revolution in Military Affairs,” Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, 2 June 2011.
In 1992, the Office of Net Assessment (ONA), Office of the Secretary of Defense, began circulating an assessment of a prospective late-twentieth-century military-technical revolution (MTR). Soviet military theorists had been discussing the possibility of a third twentieth-century […]
Cdr. Scott Tait, USN, “Make Smoke!” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 137.6 (June 2011).
Borrowing a tool from the Army, the Navy could revive a long-dormant tactic to defend against the threat of today’s high-tech antiship missiles.
Two characteristics seem certain to define the military environment for the immediate future: rapid, radical technological change, and increased budget pressure […]
Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “The 10 Biggest Cities in China That You’ve Probably Never Heard of,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 37 (1 June 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
China already has more than 150 cities with populations of more than one million people and could have as many as 221 cities with one million […]
Gregory P. Gilbert, Air Power Development Centre, review of Andrew S. Erickson, Lyle J. Goldstein, and Nan Li, eds., China, the United States, and 21st Century Sea Power: Defining a Maritime Security Partnership (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2010), Headmark: Journal of the Australian Naval Institute (May 2011).
Each year there is one book that stands out from […]
Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Internal Challenge: China’s Diabetes Epidemic Highlights How Rising Healthcare Costs Could Constrain Economic Growth and Military Spending,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 36 (31 May 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
As analytical attention (including a substantial portion of ours) focuses on China’s growing military power and economic influence, both in East […]
Chinese Undersea Warfare: Development, Capabilities, Trends
Maritime Gray Zone Operations: Challenges and Countermeasures in the Indo-Pacific
Oxford Bibliography: “The People’s Liberation Army (PLA)”
China’s Climate Cooperation Smokescreen: A Roadmap for Seeing Through the Trap and Countering with Competition
Large-Scale Amphibious Warfare in Chinese Military Strategy
Rebalancing U.S. Forces: Basing and Forward Presence in the Asia-Pacific
China’s Near Seas Combat Capabilities
Chinese Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) Development: Drivers, Trajectories and Strategic Implications
Asia’s Rising Energy and Resource Nationalism: Implications for the United States, China, and the Asia-Pacific Region
Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles
China’s S-Curve Trajectory: Structural Factors Will Likely Slow the Growth of China’s Economy and Comprehensive National Power
China, the United States, and 21st-Century Sea Power: Defining a Maritime Security Partnership
China Goes to Sea: Maritime Transformation in Comparative Historical Perspective
China’s Energy Strategy: The Impact on Bejing’s Maritime Policies
China’s Future Nuclear Submarine Force
Chinese Mine Warfare: A PLA Navy 'Assassin’s Mace' Capability
China’s Nuclear Force Modernization
