05 August 2022

How Will China’s National Power Evolve Vis-à-vis the United States?

Andrew S. Erickson, “How Will China’s National Power Evolve Vis-à-vis the United States?” in Maria Adele Carrai, Jennifer Rudolph, and Michael Szonyi, eds., The China Questions 2: Critical Insights into U.S.-China Relations (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2022), 161–170.

Volume received Honorable Mention, 2023 Buchanan Prize for Curricular Materials, Association for Asian Studies.

The United States and China increasingly differ in […]

Continue Reading

16 July 2022

CMSI China Maritime Report #22: “Logistics Support for a Cross-Strait Invasion: The View from Beijing”

Kevin McCauley, Logistics Support for a Cross-Strait Invasion: The View from Beijing, China Maritime Report 22 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, July 2022).

About the Author
Kevin McCauley has served as senior intelligence officer for the Soviet Union, Russia, China, and Taiwan during 31 years in the federal government, as well as an […]

Continue Reading

08 July 2022

The Gabe Collins Bookshelf: China Energy, Strategic Resources, Security Implications & More!

Once a versatile China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) team member with us at the U.S. Naval War College, subsequently the co-founder (with me) of our China SignPost™ 洞察中国 analytical website, and a valued research colleague ever since, Gabe Collins is one of the only professionals I know of who generates analysis of the highest caliber from […]

Continue Reading

05 July 2022

Lessons from the Lunar Module Program: The Director’s Conclusions

Andrew S. Erickson, “Lessons from the Lunar Module Program: The Director’s Conclusions,” in Otfried Liepack, ed., Proceedings of the Fifty-Third History Symposium of the International Academy of Astronautics, American Astronautical Society (AAS) History Series, Vol. 52 (San Diego, CA: Univelt, 2022), 529–62.

Click here for information on the volume.

Chapter 25
Lessons from the Lunar Module Program: The Director’s […]

Continue Reading

05 July 2022

Joseph Gavin and MIT’s Contribution to Aeronautics and Astronautics

Andrew S. Erickson, “Joseph Gavin and MIT’s Contribution to Aeronautics and Astronautics,” in Otfried Liepack, ed., Proceedings of the Fifty-Third History Symposium of the International Academy of Astronautics, American Astronautical Society (AAS) History Series, Vol. 52 (San Diego, CA: Univelt, 2022), 289–98.

Click here for information on the volume.

Chapter 14
Joseph Gavin and MIT’s Contribution to Aeronautics and […]

Continue Reading

01 July 2022

Order of Battle for World’s Most-Numerous Navy/Coast Guard/Maritime Militia Ships—“Modern Chinese Maritime Forces”—1 July 2022 ed.

This is the most comprehensive unclassified Chinese maritime order of battle, ship silhouettes, and data available anywhere. It tracks the world’s most-numerous Navy, Coast Guard, and Maritime Militia vessels in unrivaled detail. Even just flipping through this volume for a minute reveals the staggering scope and extent of PRC sea power across the waterfront today. I […]

Continue Reading

20 June 2022

Timely, Insightful Volume: “Russia-China Relations: Emerging Alliance or Eternal Rivals?”

Sarah Kirchberger, Svenja Sinjen, and Nils Wörmer, eds., Russia-China Relations: Emerging Alliance or Eternal Rivals? (New York, NY: Springer, 2022).
Click here to access full-text PDF.

This open access book examines Russia-China relations across a variety of civilian and military areas of cooperation. It provides an up-to-date assessment of strategic cooperation fields between China and Russia; examines the potential […]

Continue Reading

17 June 2022

PRC Launches 3rd Carrier “Fujian”—Trace Beijing’s Deck Aviation “Long March” with The China Aircraft Carrier Bookshelf!

Li Weichao, “China Launches Third Aircraft Carrier,” Xinhua, 17 June 2022.

Photo taken on June 17, 2022 shows the launching ceremony of China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, in east China’s Shanghai. The carrier, named after Fujian Province, was completely designed and built by the country. (Xinhua/Li Gang) 
SHANGHAI, June 17 (Xinhua) — China launched its third […]

Continue Reading

06 June 2022

Honored to be Quoted! “China Secretly Building PLA Naval Facility in Cambodia, Western Officials Say”

Ellen Nakashima and Cate Cadell, “China Secretly Building PLA Naval Facility in Cambodia, Western Officials Say,” Washington Post, 6 June 2022. 
China is secretly building a naval facility in Cambodia for the exclusive use of its military, with both countries denying that is the case and taking extraordinary measures to conceal the operation, Western officials said.
The military […]

Continue Reading

06 June 2022

China’s Energy Nationalism Means Coal Is Sticking Around

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “China’s Energy Nationalism Means Coal Is Sticking Around,” Foreign Policy, 6 June 2022.
Green plans are secondary to political demands.
By Gabriel B. Collins, the Baker Botts fellow in energy and environmental regulatory affairs at Rice University’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, and Andrew S. Erickson, the research director […]

Continue Reading

01 June 2022

Key China Excerpts from Big DIA Report: “Challenges to Security in Space: Space Reliance in an Era of Competition & Expansion”

Challenges to Security in Space: Space Reliance in an Era of Competition and Expansion (Washington, DC: Defense Intelligence Agency, 2022).

Click here to download a cached copy.
 p. iii
Challenges to Security in Space was first published in early 2019 to address the main threats to the array of U.S. space capabilities, and examine space and counterspace strategies and […]

Continue Reading

29 May 2022

The Prof. William Murray Bookshelf: Timely Insights into PLA Trends, Cross-Strait Dynamics & Taiwan’s Defense Options

U.S. Naval War College Professor William Murray’s scholarship on the military development and capacities of China and Taiwan is path-breaking, sobering, and thought-provoking. While others have worked hard to address these important issues, Prof. Murray’s scholarship is exemplary in its ability to distill complex and often misunderstood military operational issues to their essential dynamics based […]

Continue Reading

26 May 2022

SECSTATE Blinken’s Speech—“The Administration’s Approach to the People’s Republic of China”—Key Wording Highlighted

The Administration’s Approach to the People’s Republic of China
Speech
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
The George Washington University
Washington, D.C.
May 26, 2022

Click here to watch on YouTube.
“President Biden believes this decade will be decisive. The actions that we take at home and with countries worldwide will determine whether our shared vision of the future will be realized.”

SECRETARY […]

Continue Reading

25 May 2022

The China Maritime Militia Bookshelf: YouTube Presentation, SECNAV Guidance, Music Video—& More!

Andrew S. Erickson, “Tracking China’s ‘Little Blue Men’—A Comprehensive Maritime Militia Compendium,” China Analysis from Original Sources 以第一手资料研究中国, 25 May 2022.

Amid wave after wave of Coronavirus variants, fishy things have been happening across the South and East China Seas, home to virtually all of China’s unresolved maritime disputes. Since Beijing remains far from being fully forthcoming and transparent, I hope […]

Continue Reading

25 May 2022

139th ed. of O’Rourke’s CRS Report! Great Info on PAFMM & CCG—“U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South & East China Seas: Background & Issues for Congress”

Now in its 139th (!) iteration, this periodically-updated Library of Congress report is indispensable for policy-makers and analysts alike!

Ronald O’Rourke, U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South and East China Seas: Implications for U.S. Interests—Background and Issues for Congress, R42784 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 26 January 2022).
If you have trouble accessing the website above, please download a cached copy […]

Continue Reading

22 May 2022

“China’s Ports in Africa”—Great Chapter in Great Volume!

Great chapter by CMSI’s own Prof. Kardon in NBR volume edited by Nadège Rolland analyzing critical infrastructure development by PRC-affiliated entities in Africa. Insights regarding PRC motives, Huawei undersea cables, and more! Download full text, read key excerpts/highlights here…
Xi Jinping: “there’s a common saying, ‘if you want to get rich, first build a road,’ but in […]

Continue Reading

18 May 2022

CMSI China Maritime Report #21: “Civilian Shipping and Maritime Militia: The Logistics Backbone of a Taiwan Invasion”

Lonnie D. Henley, Civilian Shipping and Maritime Militia: The Logistics Backbone of a Taiwan Invasion, China Maritime Report 21 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, May 2022).

About the Author
Lonnie Henley retired from federal service in 2019 after more than 40 years as an intelligence officer and East Asia expert. He served 22 years as […]

Continue Reading

16 May 2022

China’s Gray Zone Strategy in the South China Sea: Emerging Trends and Deterrence Strategies

Andrew S. Erickson, “China’s Gray Zone Strategy in the South China Sea: Emerging Trends and Deterrence Strategies,” Kwentong Mandaragat Lecture, Foundation for the National Interest and University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, via Zoom to Manila, 25 May 2021.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE PRESENTATION ON YOUTUBE.

On 25 May […]

Continue Reading

13 May 2022

Must-Read in International Security! “Pier Competitor: China’s Power Position in Global Ports”

Now making big waves… I’ve strongly encouraged and am deeply familiar with this body of work. Profs. Isaac Kardon and Wendy Leutert’s well-placed article is a cutting-edge piece of scholarship that elucidates important areas of China and its role in our world today. It probes the PRC “Port-folio” around the world with unique academic methodological discipline […]

Continue Reading