Two Years Running! “Chinese Amphibious Warfare” Selected for Commandant of the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program’s 2025 & 2026 Reading Lists

14 December 2025

Two Years Running! “Chinese Amphibious Warfare” Selected for Commandant of the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program’s 2025 & 2026 Reading Lists

Honored to see our latest coedited volume, “Chinese Amphibious Warfare,” on the Commandant of the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program’s 2025 and 2026 Reading Lists!

“Explores China’s military modernization and strategic ambitions for Taiwan amid rising Great Power tensions.”
One of five books on “Great Power Competition.”
Listed under “Strategy: Examines the art of aligning ends, ways, and means across personal, organizational, and national levels of strategy.”

In another Marine Corps-related distinction, the Samuel B. Griffith Foundation selected this latest CMSI book as its 2025 Publication of the Year—as part of a curated reading list honoring the legacy of Brigadier General Samuel B. Griffith II, USMC (Ret.) and providing critical insights into Chinese military studies.

About the Commandant’s Professional Reading Program

The Commandant’s Professional Reading Program, established in 1989, is a cornerstone of Marine professional development. It challenges every Marine to think critically, act ethically, and cultivate the intellectual readiness required to lead in a rapidly changing world. The program deepens understanding of war, leadership, and decision-making, while strengthening the shared identity that binds Marines across generations.

The FY26 Commandant’s Professional Reading List (CPRL) (ALMAR 024/25) has been refined in preparation for the Corps’ 250th anniversary, aligning with the Commandant’s guidance to honor our heritage while preparing for the future fight. The updated list incorporates Semper Fidelis: 250 Years of U.S. Marine Corps Honor, Courage, and Commitment—a flagship publication from Marine Corps University’s History Division that serves as a centerpiece for 250th-anniversary communications and reflection. …

The FY26 CPRL is organized into four categories—Heritage, Innovation, Leadership, and Strategy—providing Marines at all levels with resources to strengthen judgment, creativity, and warfighting excellence.

All Marines Message (ALMAR) 024/25

ALMAR 024/25 is the formal message from the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) that promulgates the updated Commandant’s Professional Reading List for FY26, reinforcing the Corps’ emphasis on professional education and lifelong learning.

All Marines Messages (ALMARs) are issued exclusively by the Commandant to the entire Marine Corps force to convey guidance, updates, or policy-relevant information to all Marines. U.S. Marine Corps ALMAR 024/25, dated 8 December 2025, is titled, “Update to the Commandant’s Professional Reading List for Fiscal Year 26.”

This authoritative leader guidance updates for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 the Commandant’s Professional Reading List (CPRL): a curated compilation of books, journals, podcasts, and periodicals selected to support the professional military education and intellectual development of Marines across all ranks.

In recognition of the Marine Corps’ recent 250th anniversary, the Commandant’s Professional Reading List for FY26 highlights heritage, innovation, and enduring ethos, offering titles that honor the past and prepare Marines for the future fight. Nominations were solicited across the force and reviewed by the CPRL Board; selected recommendations were incorporated to ensure the list reflects the perspectives of Marines at all ranks.

The CPRL is part of the Commandant’s Professional Reading Program (CPRP), established in 1989 to foster critical thinking, broaden understanding of military history and doctrine, and reinforce leadership and decision-making skills across the Corps. Marines are expected to familiarize themselves with the full range of Marine Corps doctrinal publications as part of their professional self-study.

The FY26 update refines and reorganizes reading categories and incorporates nominated titles from Marines at various ranks to ensure relevance and depth.

UPDATE TO THE COMMANDANT’S PROFESSIONAL READING LIST FOR FISCAL YEAR 26

Date Signed: 12/8/2025 | ALMARS Number: 024/25

ALMARS : 024/25

R 052400Z DEC 25 ALMAR 024/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC// SUBJ/UPDATE TO THE COMMANDANT’S PROFESSIONAL READING LIST FOR FISCAL YEAR 26// REF/A/DOC/CMC/25JAN08// REF/B/RMG/CG EDCOM/10JUN25// NARR/REF A IS MCO 1553.4B, PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION. REF B IS MARADMIN 268/25, SOLICITATION FOR NOMINATIONS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 26 COMMANDANT’S PROFESSIONAL READING LIST.// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. The Commandant’s Professional Reading Program (CPRP), established in 1989, is a cornerstone of professional development for Marines, fostering critical thinking, leadership, and a deeper understanding of military history and doctrine. By encouraging a culture of continuous learning, the program enhances decision-making skills and prepares Marines to face complex challenges in dynamic environments. Ultimately, the program cultivates well-rounded leaders who embody the intellectual and moral rigor required to uphold the mission of the Marine Corps. 1.a. In accordance with reference (a), the CPRP is an integral element of professional military education, requiring Marines at all grades to engage in professional self-study through the reading list. The Commandant’s Professional Reading List (CPRL) is reviewed at least bi-annually to ensure it remains relevant, current, and promotes professional discussions across the force. Marines are encouraged to read broadly across the list and should aim to complete at least five titles annually as part of their professional self-study. 1.b. For FY26, the CPRL has been refined in preparation for the Corps’ 250th anniversary. This update highlights our heritage, innovation, and enduring ethos, offering a list that both honors our past and prepares Marines for the future fight in recognition of this significant milestone. 1.c. In accordance with reference (b), nominations were solicited across the force and reviewed by the CPRL Board. Selected recommendations were incorporated to ensure the list reflects the perspectives of Marines at all ranks. 2. The FY26 CPRL consists of six sections — Commandant’s Choice, Heritage, Innovation, Leadership, Strategy, and Foundational. Together these categories provide Marines at all levels with resources to strengthen character, decision-making, and warfighting excellence. 2.a. The CPRL and related information can be found at https://grc-usmcu.libguides.com/cmc-reading-list. 2.b. In addition to the updated reading list, the Marine Corps University updated the list of podcasts and periodicals also available at the CPRL link. These resources are refreshed periodically to maintain relevance and to support professional military education (PME) across the force. Marines are highly encouraged to incorporate these periodicals and podcasts into their professional education regimes, as scholarly and professionally oriented articles foster innovation, PME development, critical study of the profession of arms, and serious discussion regarding topics of interest within the Marine Corps. 2.c. Previous CPRL book titles will remain available under the heading “Archive.” 3. Categories 3.a. Commandant’s Choice: “Once an Eagle” by A. Myrer 3.b. Heritage 3.b.1. “How the Few Became the Proud: Crafting the Marine Corps Mystique, 1874–1918” by Heather Venable 3.b.2. “Lejeune: A Marine’s Life, 1867–1942” by Merrill L. Bartlett 3.b.3. “First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps” by Victor H. Krulak 3.b.4. “Always Faithful: 250 Years of Remarkable Stories from the Collections of the National Museum of the Marine Corps” by Owen Conner 3.b.5. “Semper Fidelis: 250 Years of U.S. Marine Corps Honor, Courage, and Commitment” by Marine Corps History Division 3.b.6. “With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa” by Eugene B. Sledge 3.b.7. “Delivering Destruction: American Firepower and Amphibious Assault from Tarawa to Iwo Jima” by Chris K. Hemler 3.b.8. “This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History, 50th Anniversary Edition” by T.R. Fehrenbach 3.b.9. “The Marines of Montford Point: America’s First Black Marines” by Melton A. McLaurin 3.b.10. “Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir by One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII” by Chester Nez and Judith Avila 3.b.11. “Corps Competency?: III Marine Amphibious Force Headquarters in Vietnam” by Michael F. Morris 3.b.12. “Targeted: Beirut: The 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing and the Untold Story of the War on Terror” by Jack Carr and James M. Scott 3.b.13. “Echo in Ramadi: The Firsthand Story of US Marines in Iraq’s Deadliest City” by Scott A. Huesing 3.b.14. “The American War in Afghanistan: A History” by Carter Malkasian 3.b.15. “On Contested Shores: The Evolving Role of Amphibious Operations in the History of Warfare” (Vols. I & II) edited by Timothy Heck, B.A. Friedman, and Walker D. Mills 3.c. Innovation 3.c.1. “Learning War: The Evolution of Fighting Doctrine in the U.S. Navy, 1898–1945” by Trent Hone 3.c.2. “A Game of Birds and Wolves: The Ingenious Young Women Whose Secret Board Game Helped Win World War II” by Simon Parkin 3.c.3. “Playing War: Wargaming and U.S. Navy Preparations for World War II” by John M. Lillard 3.c.4. “Neptune’s Inferno: The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal” by James D. Hornfischer 3.c.5. “A New Conception of War: John Boyd, the U.S. Marines, and Maneuver Warfare” by Ian T. Brown 3.c.6. “Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation” by Steven Johnson 3.c.7. “The Origins of Victory: How Disruptive Military Innovation Determines the Fates of Great Powers” by Andrew F. Krepinevich Jr. 3.c.8. “Evolution on Demand: The Changing Roles of the U.S. Marine Corps in Twenty-first Century Conflicts and Beyond” by Joanna Siekiera 3.c.9. “7 Seconds to Die: A Military Analysis of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War and the Future of Warfighting” by John F. Antal 3.c.10. “Next War: Reimagining How We Fight” by John F. Antal 3.c.11. “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” by Klaus Schwab 3.c.12. “Soft-Wired: How the New Science of Brain Plasticity Can Change Your Life” by Michael Merzenich 3.c.13. “Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI” by Ethan Mollick 3.c.14. “Generative AI for Leaders” by Amir Husain 3.c.15. “The Arms of the Future: Technology and Close Combat in the 21st Century” by Jack Watling 3.d. Leadership 3.d.1. “Make Your Bed” by Admiral William H. McRaven 3.d.2. “You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For” by Kyle Carpenter 3.d.3. “The White Donkey: Terminal Lance” by Maximilian Uriarte 3.d.4. “On Killing” by LtCol Dave Grossman 3.d.5. “Wisdom of the Bullfrog” by Admiral William H. McRaven 3.d.6. “Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War” by Karl Marlantes 3.d.7. “The Yompers: With 45 Commando in the Falklands War” by Ian R. Gardiner 3.d.8. “Generals and Admirals, Criminals and Crooks” by Jeffrey Matthews 3.d.9. “Leadership Strategy and Tactics: Field Manual” by Jocko Willink 3.d.10. “The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told” by Iain C. Martin 3.d.11. “Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead” by Jim Mattis and Bing West 3.d.12. “Risk: A User’s Guide” by GEN (Ret.) Stanley McChrystal 3.d.13. “Nimitz at War” by Craig L. Symonds 3.d.14. “Five Generations at Work: How We Win Together, For Good” by Rebecca Robins and Patrick Dunne 3.d.15. “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” by Greg McKeown 3.e. Strategy 3.e.1. “The Closing of the American Mind” by Allan Bloom 3.e.2. “The Defence of Duffer’s Drift” by Ernest Dunlop Swinton 3.e.3. “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card 3.e.4. “Legacy: 15 Lessons in Leadership” by James Kerr 3.e.5. “The Infinite Game” by Simon Sinek 3.e.6. “Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders” by L. David Marquet 3.e.7. “On Grand Strategy” by John Lewis Gaddis 3.e.8 “Speed Kills: Leveraging John Boyd’s OODA Loop to Build Organizations That Win” by Alex Vohr 3.e.9. “The New Makers of Modern Strategy: From the Ancient World to the Digital Age” edited by Hal Brands 3.e.10. “Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War” by Ben Connable 3.e.11. “The Generals’ War: The Inside Story of the Conflict in the Gulf” by Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor 3.e.12. “Command: The Politics of Military Operations from Korea to Ukraine” by Lawrence Freedman 3.e.13. “The Russian Way of Deterrence: Strategic Culture, Coercion & War” by Dmitry Adamsky 3.e.14. “The Long Game: China’s Grand Strategy to Displace American Order” by Rush Doshi 3.e.15. “Fleet Tactics and Naval Operations, 3rd ed.” by Wayne Hughes and Robert Girrier 3.e.16. “Chinese Amphibious Warfare: Prospects for a Cross-Straits Invasion” by Andrew Erickson, Conor Kennedy, and Ryan Martinson 4. Foundation. The titles listed under this heading represent the core publications that articulate the Marine Corps’ warfighting philosophy, institutional values, and enduring doctrinal principles. These works establish the intellectual foundation expected of every Marine. They are highlighted here to emphasize their role in providing the essential framework upon which all subsequent doctrine, concepts, and professional reading are built. All Marines are expected to familiarize themselves with the full range of Marine Corps doctrinal publications, which are available at https:(slant)(slant)usmc.sharepoint-mil.us(slant)sites(slant) MCEN_USMCDoctrine. 4.a. “Constitution of the United States of America” by James Madison, et. al. 4.b. “Warfighting (MCDP 1)” by United States Marine Corps 4.c. “Competing (MCDP 1-4)” by United States Marine Corps 4.d. “Intelligence (MCDP 2)” by United States Marine Corps 4.e. “Expeditionary Operations (MCDP 3)” by United States Marine Corps 4.f. “Logistics (MCDP 4)” by United States Marine Corps 4.g. “Learning (MCDP 7)” by United States Marine Corps 4.h. “Leading Marines (MCWP 6-11)” by United States Marine Corps 4.i. “Sustaining the Transformation (MCRP 6-11D)” by United States Marine Corps 5. Recommendations to the CPRP can be submitted to: ProfessionalReading@usmcu.edu. 6. Semper Fidelis, Eric M. Smith, General, U.S. Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps.//

Chinese Amphibious Warfare: Prospects for a Cross-Strait Invasionby Andrew S. Erickson, et al.

This study explores key questions concerning Beijing’s determined pursuit of the Chinese Communist Party’s ultimate political and strategic prize: How might the PLA attempt to execute a Joint Island Landing Campaign to achieve a cross-Strait invasion of Taiwan, what might be its prospects for success, and what must Taiwan—with American support—do urgently to shore up deterrence?
U.S. Naval War College Digital Commons (Free PDF)

COMPLETE INFORMATION ON BOOK SELECTED:

Andrew S. Erickson, Conor M. Kennedy, and Ryan D. Martinson, eds., Chinese Amphibious Warfare: Prospects for a Cross-Strait Invasion(Newport, RI: Naval War College Press, 7 November 2024).

Named 2025 Publication of the Year by the Samuel B. Griffith Foundation.

Coauthor of:

Andrew S. Erickson, Conor M. Kennedy, and Ryan D. Martinson, “Introduction: Taking Taiwan by Force? Chinese Amphibious Warfare in the New Era,” 1–12.
Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “Deterring (or Defeating) a PLA Invasion: Recommendations for Taipei,” 457–72.

Two-part summary of volume:

Andrew S. Erickson, “China’s Amphibious Warfare: History, Doctrine, and Forces,” The Diplomat, 14 December 2024.
Andrew S. Erickson, “Chinese Amphibious Warfare: Taiwan Targeted, Scenarios Swirling,” The Diplomat, 14 December 2024.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A FULL-TEXT PDF.

The China Maritime Studies Institute is thrilled to announce the publication of our latest conference edited volume, “Chinese Amphibious Warfare: Prospects for a Cross-Strait Invasion.” Edited by Dr. Andrew Erickson, Professor Conor Kennedy and Professor Ryan Martinson, this is a volume you will want to download immediately and reference frequently!

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Through concerted efforts over the past quarter-century, the People’s Republic of China has achieved the most dramatic military buildup since World War II. Previously limited in its ability to conduct its Joint Firepower Strike, Joint Blockade, and Joint Island Landing Campaigns against Taiwan, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is making rapid progress across the board as it prepares to meet the requirements of Xi Jinping’s Taiwan-focused Centennial Military Building Goal of 2027. Drawing on research, writing, and insights from some of the world’s leading experts, CMSI’s latest edited conference volume probes key questions concerning Beijing’s determined pursuit of the Chinese Communist Party’s ultimate political and strategic prize: How might the PLA attempt to execute a Joint Island Landing Campaign to achieve a cross-Strait invasion of Taiwan, what might be its prospects for success, and what must Taiwan—with American support—do urgently to shore up deterrence? The findings are nuanced but bracing. The saving grace, till now, is that Taiwan enjoys formidable defensive geography, and a large-scale amphibious invasion is one of the most difficult military operations to accomplish. However, under Xi’s concerted directives, China’s military is reforming relentlessly, bringing critical new capabilities to bear, and training tirelessly to improve its ability to carry out the operations on which it is bore-sighted. The stakes could scarcely be higher, and the clock is ticking.

BLURBS

“Singularly comprehensive and timely. Chinese Amphibious Warfare is indispensable in assessing Taiwan Strait scenarios, China’s regional maritime objectives and capabilities, and Beijing’s increasing global maritime influence. Necessarily wide in scope, yet rich in detail, it is both an authoritative primer and matchless reference for all interested in the potential for and possible outcomes of conflict in a fraught region and beyond.”

— ADMIRAL GARY ROUGHEAD, U.S. Navy (Ret.), former Chief of Naval Operations and Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet

“There is a vast and ever-growing literature on the issue of whether China intends to invade Taiwan. But much of this literature ignores an equally important issue: is China capable of invading Taiwan? No other non-classified work even comes close to this book’s comprehensive coverage of this critical question of China’s capacities. No future discussion of potential Taiwan Strait scenarios will be complete unless it incorporates the findings and insights of this book. Its thoughtful and thought-provoking implications extend far beyond the military realm.”

— DR. MICHAEL SZONYI, Frank Wen-Hsiung Wu Memorial Professor of Chinese History and former Director, Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University; Author of Cold War Island: Quemoy on the Front Line

“This meticulous and compelling study concludes that China is developing the capabilities for a cross-Strait invasion in a comprehensive manner. It also makes clear that the forced annexation of Taiwan would be a daunting and costly mission for the PLA. Chinese Amphibious Warfare makes clear that the time is now to help Taiwan strengthen its defenses.”

— LIEUTENANT GENERAL H. R. MCMASTER, U.S. Army (Ret.), 25th U.S. National Security Advisor; Author of Battlegrounds and At War with Ourselves; Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University

“Amid rising cross-Strait tensions, Chinese Amphibious Warfare delivers timely insights into China’s strategic calculus and military capabilities concerning Taiwan. It is a critical read for policymakers, military leaders, and others seeking to understand a contingency that holds significant implications for international security and the global economy.”

— JENNIFER WELCH, Chief Geoeconomics Analyst, Bloomberg Economics; former Director for China and Taiwan, National Security Council

“For a long time to come, Chinese Amphibious Warfare will be the go-to volume for understanding the PLA’s strengths and weaknesses in executing an amphibious invasion of Taiwan. Written by an impressive cohort of experts, each of twenty chapters is evidence-based in its analysis and balanced in its conclusions. The policy implications for the United States, Taiwan, and Japan are sobering, but the authors identify ways to complicate PLA operations and strengthen deterrence.”

— DR. RICHARD C. BUSH, former Chairman and Managing Director, American Institute in Taiwan; Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution

MAPS FROM VOLUME:

SELECTED EXHIBITS FROM VOLUME:

FROM ORDER OF BATTLE APPENDIX: “CROSSING THE STRAIT? PLA AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS RELEVANT TO TAIWAN SCENARIOS”

STUDIES IN CHINESE MARITIME DEVELOPMENT

ANDREW S. ERICKSON, SERIES EDITOR

Powered by the world’s second-largest economy and defense budget, China is going to sea on a scale and with a sophistication that no continental power ever before has sustained in the modern era. Its three sea forces are all leaders in their own right: the world’s largest navy, coast guard, and maritime militia, by number of ships. They are supplied by the world’s largest shipyard infrastructure, which has achieved the largest, fastest postwar production-capacity expansion. On the civilian side, Chinese sea power is supplemented by the world’s largest fishing fleet, including in number of fishers; aquaculture and pisciculture industries; merchant marine; and marine sector overall. It has a large, nationally flagged tanker fleet and expansive global port-infrastructure networks.

Paramount leader Xi Jinping is guiding China’s transformation into a “great maritime power.” At a minimum, today’s Middle Kingdom is already a hybrid land-sea power. Amid European decline and American fiscal and strategic challenges, this historic transformation has the potential to end six centuries of largely Western dominance of the world’s oceans. The U.S. Navy and nation must understand this momentous sea change to inform strategy and policy properly. Worryingly, Beijing has the world’s most numerous and extensive disputed island/feature claims, with the largest number of other parties. Of these, no flash point looms larger than Taiwan.

Since the Chinese Maritime Studies Institute was established in 2006, it has been conducting research and holding conferences covering the broad waterfront of Chinese oceanic efforts to advise USN leadership and to support the Naval War College in its core missions of helping to define the future Navy and to support the Navy during an era of great-power competition. The Studies in Chinese Maritime Development series assembles the resulting proceedings into edited volumes focusing on specific topics of importance, to elucidate further both China’s progress and its challenges at sea.