19 October 2011

The Politics of Nuclear Weapons in South Asia

Bhumitra Chakma, The Politics of Nuclear Weapons in South Asia (London: Ashgate, 2011).
An important and critical re-evaluation of South Asia’s post-tests nuclear politics, in contrast to other books, this volume emphasises the political dimension of South Asia’s nuclear weapons, explains how the bombs are used as politico-strategic assets rather than pure battlefield weapons and how […]

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19 October 2011

A Skeptic’s Case for Nuclear Disarmament

Michael E. O’Hanlon, A Skeptic’s Case for Nuclear Disarmament (Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2010).
In 2007 two former U.S. secretaries of state, a defense secretary, and a former senator wrote persuasively in the Wall Street Journal that the time had come to move seriously toward a nuclear-free world. Almost two years later, the Global Zero […]

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19 October 2011

The International Politics of the Asia Pacific: Third and Revised Edition (Politics in Asia)

Michael Yahuda, The International Politics of the Asia Pacific: Third and Revised Edition (Politics in Asia) (New York: Routledge, 2011).
This fully revised third edition of Michael Yahuda’s extremely successful textbook brings the region fully up-to-date, introducing students to the international politics of the Asia-Pacific region since 1945, assessing the post-cold War uncertainties that challenged balance […]

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19 October 2011

Somalia: The New Barbary?: Piracy and Islam in the Horn of Africa

Martin N. Murphy, Somalia: The New Barbary?: Piracy and Islam in the Horn of Africa (New York: Columbia University Press, 2011).
Somali piracy is repeatedly associated with the historical specter of barbary. The world now fears Somalia has taken on its mantle by becoming a safe haven for terrorists wishing to wreak havoc on civilized societies. […]

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19 October 2011

The “People” in the PLA: Recruitment, Training, and Education in China’s Military

Roy Kamphausen, Andrew Scobell, and Travis Tanner, eds., The “People” in the PLA: Recruitment, Training, and Education in China’s Military (Carlisle, PA: U.S. Army War College and National Bureau of Asian Research, 2008).
This volume represents the latest in the series published by the Strategic Studies Institute and describes the advances and reforms the PLA has […]

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19 October 2011

Nuclear Proliferation in Northeast Asia: The Quest for Security

Andrew O’Neill, Nuclear Proliferation in Northeast Asia: The Quest for Security (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007).
The core principle underlying the strategy of nonproliferation – acceptance of a two tier international nuclear order – has become unsustainable. Policy makers and those in the academic world need to turn their attention to exploring new proliferation management strategies […]

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15 October 2011

China Expands its Military Reach

Bradley Perrett, “China Expands its Military Reach,” Aviation Week & Space Technology, 14 October 2011.
How far is China’s military reach? The answer depends on what it wants to do. A Chinese warship deployed to the Mediterranean this year, so, by that yardstick, global reach is at hand. But the isolated ship only supported civilian evacuations […]

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14 October 2011

China SignPost™ (洞察中国) #48: “Transparency is Not Just for the Military: Improved commodity data reporting from China good for Chinese and global consumers alike”

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Transparency is Not Just for the Military: Improved Commodity Data Reporting from China Good for Chinese and Global Consumers Alike,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 48 (14 October 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Just last week, the China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association estimated the country’s copper reserves at year-end 2010 to have been […]

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13 October 2011

One Ocean, Two Shades: Perceptions about the Indian Ocean

/luce.nt/ was established in 2010 as a forum to advance thinking and to promote dialogue in an online symposium for policy makers, scholars, and practitioners within the international security community “on all questions relating to war and to statesmanship connected with war, or the prevention of war.” The thoughts and opinions expressed in this online […]

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13 October 2011

MIT Security Studies Program Launches Nuclear Security Fellows Program

With the generosity of the Stanton Foundation, the MIT Security Studies Program is starting a new Nuclear Security Fellows Program for junior faculty as well as pre-doctoral and post-doctoral scholars. Nuclear security is defined broadly to include nuclear terrorism, nuclear proliferation and nonproliferation, nuclear weapons, nuclear doctrine and force structure, and nuclear energy as it […]

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13 October 2011

Princeton-Harvard China and the World Program (CWP) Now Accepting Applications

Having served as a Fellow in the Princeton-Harvard China and the World Program (CWP, 中国国与世界研究项目) from 2010-11, I cannot endorse it more strongly. It offers entrée into just the community of specialists that I had always dreamed of joining when I decided to become a China scholar—serious but interesting intellectuals who contribute to the theoretical, […]

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03 October 2011

Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles Reviewed by Book News Inc.

Andrew S. Erickson and Lyle J. Goldstein, eds., Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2011) reviewed in “Reference & Research Book News,” Book News Inc. (October 2011), 306.
This work offers a broad overview and appraisal of recent developments in Chinese aerospace and maritime power and examines implications for the US […]

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02 October 2011

Translation of 10+ CMSI Publications into Japanese (日本語) by JANAFA (日米ネービー友好協会)

Meeting and Tour of Tokyo’s Sensō-ji Temple and Asakusa District with JANAFA (日米ネービー友好協会) Leadership
This January, I had the pleasure of meeting with leaders from the U.S.-Japan Navy Friendship Association (JANAFA). JANAFA plays an important role in supporting constructive relations between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF, 海上自衛隊) and the U.S. Navy. This partnership, as part […]

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02 October 2011

CMSI ‘Red Book’ #8: “The Dragon Eyes the Top of the World: Arctic Policy Debate and Discussion in China”

David Curtis Wright, The Dragon Eyes the Top of the World: Arctic Policy Debate and Discussion in China, Naval War College China Maritime Study 8 (August 2011).
The Chinese are increasingly interested in the effects of global climate change and the melting of the Arctic ice cap, especially as they pertain to emergent sea routes, natural resources, and geopolitical […]

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01 October 2011

Japanese (日本語) Translation of “When Land Powers Look Seaward” Released

Andrew Erickson, Lyle Goldstein, and Carnes Lord, “When Land Powers Look Seaward,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 137.4 (April 2011): 18-23.
Japanese translation now available: 大陸国家が海洋を目指す時.
How does a traditional land power like China make the transformation to major maritime player? Andrew Erickson, Lyle Goldstein, and Carnes Lord of the Naval War College suggest that China can draw […]

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30 September 2011

Japanese (日本語) Summary of Chinese Aerospace Power Now Available

Andrew S. Erickson and Lyle J. Goldstein, eds., Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2011).
Japanese summary now available: 中国の航空宇宙パワー海洋任務への発展.
概 説
中国の空母計画は、一番艦が完成する前に大きな波紋を十分に齎しつつある。疑いなく、この開発は中国の国家安全保障政策に新しい時代の到来を告げるものだ。
一方、この本は、特定の質問に対して十分に新しい洞察力を示し、その焦点は、はっきりとより広い知的範囲にある。
中国の航空宇宙パワーは、以前には西洋の学問が未踏であった戦略的分野に焦点を置き、中国の航空宇宙開発の包括的な調査を試みている。
また本書は、これらの開発をアジア-太平洋地域における広大な海洋戦域にリンクさせ、米軍、特に米海軍に対する結果としての影響について強調している。
著者について
アンドリュー・エリクソンとライル・J・ゴールドスタインは米国海軍大学の戦略研究部准教授であり、中国海洋研究所の発起人である。彼らは、「中国、米国及び21 世紀のシーパワー」及び「中国は海へ進出」を含む幾つかの書籍を共著している。
 

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29 September 2011

John Reed, DoD Buzz: “China’s Ability to Make Quality Jet Engines”

John Reed, “China’s Ability to Make Quality Jet Engines,” DoD Buzz, 28 September 2011.
…China is making strides when it comes to jet engine development. A few months ago, U.S. Naval War College professor Andrew Erickson released this analysis of China’s ability to produce modern fighter engines. Now, Erickson is taking aim at China’s advances in […]

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29 September 2011

Opposed Systems Design: “Constraints on Chinese Growth”

***This post offers some good points regarding what I would term China’s “Trajectory of Expectations.” We need to “calculate the second derivative” of China’s S-Curve.***
“Constraints on Chinese Growth,” Opposed Systems Design, 27 September 2011.
Erickson and Collins have a stimulating piece about potential constraints on Chinese growth. They summarize political, demographic, health, environmental, and economic factors that could […]

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27 September 2011

Adam Cobb, MIL INT: “Wake Up DC – The Asian Century Is Here, Part 1”

Adam Cobb, “Wake Up DC – The Asian Century Is Here, Part 1,” MIL INT, 24 September 2011.
ASIA MUST BECOME – FOCUS OF EFFORT
The US foreign and security policy community has to get back up to speed on Asia – and do so as quickly as possible – transforming it from a niche concern to […]

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