01 February 2016

“Powers Jockey for Pacific Island Chain Influence”—Interview by Christopher P. Cavas in Defense News

Christopher P. Cavas, “Powers Jockey for Pacific Island Chain Influence,” Interview of Andrew S. Erickson, Defense News, 1 February 2016.

Pacific Island Chains Measure Regional Influence
WASHINGTON — The extensive chains of Pacific islands ringing China have been described as a wall, a barrier to be breached by an attacker or strengthened by a defender. They are seen […]

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01 February 2016

Trailblazers in Warfighting: The Maritime Militia of Danzhou

Andrew S. Erickson and Conor M. Kennedy, “Trailblazers in Warfighting: The Maritime Militia of Danzhou,” Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC), 1 February 2016.

This is the second article in a five-part series exploring Hainan Province’s maritime militia, an important but little-understood player in the South China Sea and participant in its ongoing disputes. Our first article covered the maritime militia […]

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22 January 2016

Beijing Offers Most Comprehensive Statement to Date on New PLA Navy Logistical Facilities in Djibouti

Thanks to Nizar Manek for bringing this to my attention!
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei’s Regular Press Conference on January 21, 2016
Q: President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti announced on January 20 that a series of agreements have been signed with the Chinese side to set up a free trade zone, expand Djibouti’s role for transshipment […]

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21 January 2016

“Barriers, Springboards and Benchmarks: China Conceptualizes the Pacific ‘Island Chains’”—FirstView Version of Article Now Available on The China Quarterly Website

Andrew S. Erickson and Joel Wuthnow, “Barriers, Springboards and Benchmarks: China Conceptualizes the Pacific ‘Island Chains’,” The China Quarterly, available on CJO 2016 doi:10.1017/S0305741016000011; published online by Cambridge University Press 21 January 2016.   
A FirstView version of the forthcoming article online may be accessed at http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0305741016000011.
Click here to read PDF version.
This FirstView version of the article, […]

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21 January 2016

Six Decades of Chinese Space History: A Comparative History of Rocket and Satellite Development

Andrew S. Erickson, “Six Decades of Chinese Space History: A Comparative History of Rocket and Satellite Development,” in Andrew S. Erickson, ed., History of Rocketry and Astronautics: Proceedings of the 47th History Symposium of the International Academy of Astronautics, American Astronautical Society (AAS) History Series, 45 (San Diego, CA: Univelt, 2015), 205-64.           PART 1           PART 2
China’s […]

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20 January 2016

History of Rocketry and Astronautics: Proceedings of the 47th History Symposium of the International Academy of Astronautics

Andrew S. Erickson, ed., History of Rocketry and Astronautics: Proceedings of the 47th History Symposium of the International Academy of Astronautics, American Astronautical Society (AAS) History Series, 45 (San Diego, CA: Univelt, 2015).
Author:

Andrew S. Erickson, “Preface,” ix.          PREFACE & VOLUME INFORMATION
Andrew S. Erickson, “Six Decades of Chinese Space History: A Comparative History […]

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20 January 2016

Asia-Pacific Rebalance 2025: Capabilities, Presence, and Partnerships

Michael J. Green, Kathleen H. Hicks, Mark F. Cancian, Asia-Pacific Rebalance 2025: Capabilities, Presence, and Partnerships (Washington, DC: Center for Strategic & International Studies, 19 January 2016).
An Independent Review of U.S. Defense Strategy in the Asia-Pacific
Contributors: Ernest Bower, Victor Cha, Heather Conley, Zack Cooper, Ryan Crotty, Melissa Dalton, Bonnie Glaser, Rebecca Hersman, Murray Hiebert, Christopher Johnson, Thomas Karako, […]

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07 January 2016

Latest Version of Ron O’Rourke’s Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report: “China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress”

Ronald O’Rourke, China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 21 December 2015), RL33153.
Summary
China is building a modern and regionally powerful navy with a limited but growing capability for conducting operations beyond China’s near-seas region. Observers of Chinese and U.S. military forces view China’s improving naval capabilities as posing a potential […]

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05 January 2016

America’s Security Role in the South China Sea

Andrew S. Erickson, “America’s Security Role in the South China Sea,” Naval War College Review 69.1 (Winter 2016): 7-20.
In this issue, Andrew S. Erickson argues for safeguarding the long-term future of the global maritime commons, including the freedom of the vital international sea-lanes of the South China Sea and the airspace above.
From the Editors:
As the […]

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05 January 2016

The Evolution of Interstate Security Crisis-Management Theory and Practice in China

Alastair Iain Johnston, “The Evolution of Interstate Security Crisis-Management Theory and Practice in China,” Naval War College Review 69.1 (Winter 2016): 28–71.
Alastair Iain Johnston is the Governor James Albert Noe and Linda Noe Laine Professor of China in World Affairs at Harvard University. He codirects the Princeton-Harvard China and the World program. His published books […]

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02 January 2016

China Lands Test Flight in Disputed Island Chain

Te-Ping Chen, “China Lands Test Flight in Disputed Island Chain,” Wall Street Journal, 2 January 2016.
Vietnam was quick to protest the flight to new airfield in the South China Sea’s Spratlys
BEIJING—China said it had landed a test flight on a newly completed airfield in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, a sign of its […]

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02 January 2016

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Remarks on Chinese Test Flight to Newly-Built Airport on Fiery Cross Reef/Yongshu Jiao in Spratly Islands

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Remarks on Test Flight to Newly-Built Airport on Yongshu Jiao of China’s Nansha Islands
2016/01/02
Q: It is reported that the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson made a statement on January 2, expressing Vietnam’s protest against China’s test flight to a newly-built airport on Yongshu Jiao of the Nansha Islands. What is your […]

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17 December 2015

Thriller with a Purpose: “Red Phoenix Burning” by New York Times bestselling authors Larry Bond & Chris Carlson

This page-turning, technically informed novel has a serious purpose. It allows us to imagine the day when the tyrannical Kim Jong-un regime is vanquished and all Korean people enjoy freedom, including the freedom to reunify their great nation. Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down, and I doubt you will be […]

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15 December 2015

A Classic Reference with Renewed Relevance: Download “The PLA as Organization v2.0”!

Kevin Pollpeter and Kenneth W. Allen, eds., The PLA as Organization v2.0 (Vienna, VA: Defense Group Inc., 2015).
This is an updated version of the earlier classic reference volume:
James C. Mulvenon and Andrew N. D. Yang, eds., The People’s Liberation Army as Organization Reference Volume v1.0, CF-182-NSRD (Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2002).
This book is the product […]

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15 December 2015

Naval War College Seeks Greater Middle East-focused Naval Warfare Analyst

Here’s a great opportunity to join a world-class research community in a prime location. Do you have years of experience in warfare analysis, excellent critical thinking skills, and a desire to work closely with the best in the field? Getting tired of a Beltway commute or working from a remote location, and/or want to have […]

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05 December 2015

Academy of Military Science Researchers: “Why We Had to Develop the Dongfeng-26 Ballistic Missile”—Bilingual Text, Analysis & Related Links

China Youth Daily occasionally has in-depth articles not available elsewhere that detail otherwise-obscure aspects of Chinese development of major weapons systems. On pp. 32-33 of my book on China’s anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) development, for instance, I quote extensively from a fascinating article, published on China Youth Daily’s online portal in 2006 and subsequently removed, […]

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03 December 2015

Necessity, Reality: Maintaining Freedom and Peace at Sea

Andrew S. Erickson, “Necessity, Reality: Maintaining Freedom and Peace at Sea,” S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) Commentary CO15235, South China Sea Series, 5 November 2015.
RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not […]

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30 November 2015

Towards “Competitive Coexistence”: Building Operational Trust through Maritime Confidence Building Measures and Non-Traditional Security Cooperation

Andrew S. Erickson and Austin M. Strange, “Towards ‘Competitive Coexistence’: Building Operational Trust through Maritime Confidence Building Measures and Non-Traditional Security Cooperation,” China International Strategy Review 2015, 115–38.          ONLINE VERSION
[美]安德鲁·埃里克森 [美]奥斯丁·斯特兰奇 [Andrew S. Erickson and Austin M. Strange], “迈向‘竞争性共存’: 通过海上建立信任措施–与非传统安全合作构建行动互信” [Towards “Competitive Coexistence”: Building Operational Trust through Maritime Confidence Building Measures […]

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30 November 2015

Latest Version: “China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress,” Ron O’Rourke’s Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report

Ronald O’Rourke, China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 23 November 2015), RL33153.
Summary
China is building a modern and regionally powerful navy with a limited but growing capability for conducting operations beyond China’s near-seas region. Observers of Chinese and U.S. military forces view China’s improving naval capabilities as posing a potential […]

Continue Reading