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.
From Xi to the Sea! China’s Paramount Leader is a Navy Lobby of One!
Ryan D. Martinson, Chairman Xi’s Navy, China Maritime Report 54 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 2 June 2026).
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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Navy Watchers: How much of China’s Navy (the PLAN’s) rise […]
Great new job opportunity at the Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI)! Apply now to join a leading collegial team that publishes cutting-edge research to inform the Navy and engage the Nation!
Complete application information at USAJOBS!
History of CMSI and 20th anniversary of its establishment within the Center for Naval Warfare Studies (CNWS).
History of […]
Erin Richter and Joshua Arostegui, Filling the Ranks: China’s Military Recruiting System and the PLA Navy, China Maritime Report 53 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 6 May 2026).
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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Navy Watchers: As China’s Navy (PLAN) expands into a more technologically advanced force, […]
Strategic (Power) Projection and Operational Sustainment: Perspectives on Naval Support Systems, CMSI Quarterly Review 1.5 (May 2026) (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 5 May 2026).
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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Military Maritime Watchers: How do Chinese authors assess China’s own capabilities to support its Navy […]
Yin He, “Vision for Future Next-Generation Aircraft Carrier Supply Ships,” CMSI Translation 30 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 29 April 2026).
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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: How is the PLA Navy (PLAN) thinking about sustaining its fleet operating in the far […]
Jason Wang, Marvin Hamor Bernardo, Pei-Jhen Wu, and Andrew S. Erickson, Everything Everywhere All At Once: The Growing Complexity of PLA Amphibious Exercises, China Maritime Report 52 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 22 April 2026).
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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Military Maritime Watchers: This is the […]
Fascinating to see how PLA Navy experts view U.S. wargaming: “the Naval War College organizes students into red and blue teams to engage in adversarial exercises. Through these dynamic simulations, students gain an understanding of the interrelationships among specialized technical details—such as the range of the [SM-2 (Standard Missile-2)] and the performance of the E-2D […]
Great news—thanks to our loyal readers! Honored to see that CMSI has contributed 6 of the Naval War College’s top 10 most popular publications, with two great offerings by Prof. Ian Easton, as well as inputs from Prof. Ryan Martinson, Director Chris Sharman, and CMSI Affiliate Conor Kennedy.
#1, the just-released Spring issue of the CMSI Quarterly […]
CMSI Quarterly Review 1.4 (Spring 2026) (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 16 April 2026).
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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Military Maritime Watchers: Check out the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI)’s Spring Quarterly Review.
The Spring issue of the CMSI Quarterly Review highlights CMSI’s latest scholarship, media […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “China’s Naval Advancement under Xi: Narrowing Gaps in Human Capacity,” Marine & Océans Magazine 287 (June 2025): 2–5.
Dr. Andrew S. Erickson is Professor of Strategy (tenured full professor) in the U.S. Naval War College (NWC)’s China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI). A core founding member, he helped establish CMSI and stand it up […]
“Maritime Security in the South China Sea: U.S. and Philippine Perspectives,” Panel 3 at Harvard Asia Law Conference II, Wasserstein Hall, Harvard Law School, 2 April 2026.
Maritime Security in the South China Sea: US and Philippine Perspectives
Thurs, April 2 | 10:30-11:30am | WCC B010
This panel examines the legal and strategic dimensions of maritime security in […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “CMSI Conference: Probing the People of China’s Navy and Other Maritime Forces,” The Bridge (Naval War College Foundation) (Fall/Winter 2025): 22–26.
The Fall/Winter 2025 issue of The Bridge features letters from RDML A.B. Cruz III, USN (Ret.), Chairman of the Naval War College Foundation (NWCF); CAPT George E. Lang Jr., USN (Ret.), NWCF […]
Follow the latest developments in China’s growing nuclear-powered submarine force (pp. 20–22) and beyond with this new edition of “Modern Chinese Maritime Forces,” the most comprehensive open source PRC sea services inventory!
As we gallop through the Year of the Fire Horse (火马年), China under Xi is steaming full speed ahead, particularly at sea. Navigate troubled […]
Du Bo and Wang Chenyuan, “Uphold the Idea of a Maritime Community with a Shared Destiny and Forge a New Chapter in Maritime Military Security Cooperation,” CMSI Translation 28 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 24 March 2026).
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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy […]
Andrew S. Erickson, Statement for the Record for Hearing on “Part of Your World: U.S.-China Competition Under the Sea,” U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Washington, DC, 2 March 2026.
2 March 2026
Professor Andrew S. Erickson[1]
China Maritime Studies Institute, Naval War College
Statement for the Record for the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
Hearing on “Part of […]
Hearing on “Part of Your World: U.S.-China Competition Under the Sea“
Monday, March 2, 2026
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 430, and Webex
Unable to see this video? Click here.
Hearing Co-Chairs: Chair Randall Schriver [Opening Statement] and Vice Chair Michael Kuiken [Opening Statement]
9:15 AM – 9:20 AM: Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks
9:20 AM – 10:25 AM: Panel I: U.S. Navy’s […]
At CMSI, we don’t just write timely “promotion reports” and “obituaries” when PLA Navy Admirals have major career developments. We also try to look forward & track rising stars—such as VADM Cui Yuzhong in this Note. We aim, at our best, to be the analytical equivalent of Wayne Gretzky, “skating to where the puck is […]
Conor M. Kennedy, The Seafarer Profession in Contemporary China, China Maritime Report 51 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 24 February 2026).
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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Military Maritime Watchers: China’s ability to move forces, fuel, and matériel at scale depends not only on ships—but on whether […]
Zong He, “What is the Significance of the PLAN Type 055 Destroyer Zunyi Task Force’s Distant Deployment to Australia?” CMSI Translation 27 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 23 February 2026).
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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: Chinese Navy (PLAN) operations around Australia […]
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
