Andrew S. Erickson

First posted 30 December 2010; updated subsequently with latest analysis and sources.
For an explanation of Chinese ASBM development and its larger implications, see the China Maritime Studies Institute Lecture of Opportunity, “Chinese Sources Discuss the ASBM Threat to the U.S. Navy,” that I presented at the Naval War College on 21 March 2011.

For detailed analysis of Admiral […]

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Under the leadership of Profs. Joe Maiolo and Thomas Mahnken, as well as Prof. Timothy Hoyt, Journal of Strategic Studies boasts a rare combination of intellectual rigor, empirical richness, and policy relevance that other political science- and history-related publications would do well to emulate. Led by noted China technology scholar Dr. Tai Ming Cheung, whose […]

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For analysis of China’s first carrier aircraft, see Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson,“Flying Shark” Gaining Altitude: How might new J-15 strike fighter improve China’s maritime air warfare ability?,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 38 (7 June 2011).
Further background on Chinese aircraft carrier development is available in Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “The ‘Flying Shark’ Prepares to […]

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Liu Chang, “PLA Chief Confirms Vessel is ‘Under Construction’,” Global Times, 8 June 2011.
The chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Chen Bingde has confirmed that China’s first aircraft carrier is under construction. However, an official from the PLA also added that the carrier will not enter other nations’ territories after […]

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By MICHAEL WINES
Published: April 25, 2011
BEIJING — The J-15 Flying Shark is China’s newest attack jet, a sinuous fighter with the folding wings, shortened tail cone and bulked-up landing gear it needs to serve on China’s first aircraft carrier, which is expected to start sea trials soon. It is indisputable evidence of China’s growing mastery of military […]

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Full Text (English): Defense White Paper “China’s National Defense in 2010”
Full Text (Chinese):《2010年中国的国防》白皮书
China’s 2010 Defense White Paper follows a pattern by now well-established in these biannual reports on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). It offers some new details not present in the previous report, but stops well short of offering the degree of detail that […]

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Having participated in the second round of this exceptional program, I could not recommend it more highly! Here is complete application information:
NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON UNITED STATES–CHINA RELATIONS
71 West 23rd Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10010-4102   (212) 645-9677   Fax: (212) 645-1695   info@ncuscr.org
Celebrating 45 | Promoting Constructive Engagement Since 1966

Public Intellectuals Program, 2011-2013
Call for […]

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George F. Will, “The Blue National Soil of China’s Navy,” Washington Post, 18 March 2011.
When some Chinese naval officers crossed the Pacific to visit the Naval War College here on an Atlantic-lapped island, they gazed reverently at a desk used by Capt. Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840-1914). This compliment to America’s preeminent naval strategist has scholars […]

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“Obama to Name Commerce Secretary Locke Ambassador to China,” National Public Radio, 7 March 2011.
President Obama is going to make history Tuesday by naming Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to be U.S. ambassador to China, making him the first American of known Chinese ancestry to be named to that post.
Several news outlets are reporting that the […]

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Jason Dean, “China Defense Budget to Increase by 12.7%,” Wall Street Journal, 4 March 2011.
BEIJING—China’s government plans to increase its defense budget by 12.7% this year, a pickup from last year’s sharply slower growth that comes amid widening concerns about the capabilities and intentions of China’s military.
China expects to spend 601.1 billion yuan ($91.4 billion) […]

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滚动频道首页 > 媒体新闻滚动_搜狐资讯
中国空军运输机抵达喀土穆承担撤侨任务(组图)
来源：新华网
2011年03月01日20:09
作者：穆罕默德·巴比克尔3月1日，承担撤侨任务的中国空军运输机在苏丹喀土穆国际机场降落。经中央军委批准，空军2月28日派出4架伊尔－76飞机，经苏丹首都喀土穆赴利比亚执行接运中国在利比亚人员回国的任务。
新华社发（穆罕默德·巴比克尔摄）3月1日，承担撤侨任务的中国空军运输机在苏丹喀土穆国际机场降落。经中央军委批准，空军2月28日派出4架伊尔－76飞机，经苏丹首都喀土穆赴利比亚执行接运中国在利比亚人员回国的任务。新华社发（穆罕默德·巴比克尔摄）
For details on the air component of military support for China’s evacuation operations, see Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “The PLA Air Force’s First Overseas Operational Deployment: Analysis of China’s decision to deploy IL-76 transport aircraft to Libya,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 27 (1 March 2011).

For more details on Beijing’s dispatching of the frigate […]

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“Chinese Navy Frigate Arrives Waters off Libya for Escort Mission,” Xinhua, 1 March 2011.
Updated: 2011-03-01 20:00:00
BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhua) — A Chinese navy frigate has already reached mission waters off Libya on Tuesday to offer support and protection for ships evacuating Chinese nationals.
The frigate, Xuzhou, met with a Greek merchant vessel chartered by the Chinese […]

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中国空军派4架飞机接运中国在利比亚人员

http://www.chinareviewnews.com 2011-02-28 17:47:33

中评社北京2月28日电／国防部新闻事务局透露，经中央军委批准，空军派出4架伊尔－76飞机，于2月28日飞赴利比亚执行接运中国在利比亚人员的任务
For more details on Beijing’s dispatching of the frigate Xuzhou to escort ships transporting Chinese citizens from Libya, see:
Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “Missile Frigate Xuzhou Transits Suez Canal, to Arrive off Libya ~Wednesday 2 March: China’s first operational deployment to Mediterranean addresses Libya’s evolving security situation,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 26 (27 February 2011).
Gabe […]

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Roger Cliff, John Fei, Jeff Hagen, Elizabeth Hague, Eric Heginbotham, and John Stillion, Shaking the Heavens and Splitting the Earth: Chinese Air Force Employment Concepts in the 21st Century, MG-915-AF (Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2011).
 Less than a decade ago, China’s air force was an antiquated service equipped almost exclusively with weapons based on 1950s-era Soviet […]

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People’s Liberation Army Air Force 2010 (National Air and Space Intelligence Center: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 1 August 2010).
This handbook is based on information compiled from open source Chinese publications, as well as discussions with Chinese military officials and US academicians. The intent of the study is to educate US Air Force members about […]

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Song Shengxia; Zhang Han and Huang Jingjing, “New Missile ‘Ready by 2015’: Global Times,” People’s Daily Online, 18 February 2011.
Global Times (环球时报, Huanqiu Shibao) is not an official newspaper. Published on weekdays, it focuses on international issues and foreign reaction to developments in China. But it is sponsored by and produced under the auspices of People’s Daily (人民日报, Renmin Ribao), the official […]

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Defense Writers Group, Vice Admiral David J. Dorsett Deputy CNO for Information Dominance, Transcript of Q&A, Air Force Magazine website, 5 January 2011.
[Edited to fix what appears to be mistranscription of “DF-21D”].
…
Q: Good morning, Admiral. About a year and a half ago Secretary Gates said that we wouldn’t see a Chinese stealth fighter for about […]

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In response to a query from Bloomberg news reporter Tony Capaccio, the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance (N2/N6) provided the following responses on Monday 3 January 2011:
1. Does the US Navy agree with ADM Willard’s view that the Chinese have reached Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with the DF 21D?
Answer: The […]

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Yoichi Kato, National Security Correspondent, “U.S. Commander Says China Aims to be a ‘Global Military’ Power,” Asahi Shimbun, 28 December 2010.
Q [Yoichi Kato]: Let me go into China’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities. What is the current status of China’s anti-ship ballistic missile development, and how close is it to actual operational deployment?
A [Admiral Robert F. […]

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