Andrew S. Erickson

Julia Famularo, Great Inspectations: PRC Maritime Law Enforcement Operations in the Taiwan Strait, China Maritime Report 48 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 16 July 2025).

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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Maritime Watchers: People’s Republic of China (PRC) maritime law enforcement operations function as forms of cognitive […]

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Cai Qingjian, Miao Pingyi, and Bao Hanliang, “How to Achieve a ‘Soft Landing’ for New Recruits Joining Companies,” CMSI Translation 21 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 10 July 2025).
News Observation on an Eastern Theater Command Navy Group’s Innovative Education of New Recruits

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From CMSI Director CAPT […]

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Teng Hao, Yang Liu, and Liu Zihao, “Spring Breeze Accompanies Us As We Strive Forward,” CMSI Translation 20 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 10 July 2025).
Stories of a Northern Theater Command Navy coastal defense missile regiment doing a good job educating and managing new recruits in the spring enlistment period by […]

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Andrew S. Erickson and Christopher H. Sharman, “PLAN Chief of Staff VADM Li Hanjun: Fast-Rising Star of Training and Education Extinguished,” CMSI Note 15 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 30 June 2025).

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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Navy Watchers: Another senior People’s Liberation Army Navy […]

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Ryan D. Martinson, “Exposed Undersea: PLA Navy Officer Reflections on China’s Not-So-Silent Service,” Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC), 24 June 2025.

From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
What do PLAN officers tell themselves about the capabilities of U.S. undersea surveillance systems? What are the acoustic vulnerabilities of PLAN submarines? Moreover, how should the PLAN […]

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Thanks to Brian Kerg and CIMSEC for a great opportunity!
Honored that “Chinese Amphibious Warfare” has been named the Samuel B. Griffith Foundation’s 2025 Publication of the Year and selected for the Commandant of the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program’s 2025 Reading List.

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I’ve summarized our book’s key findings in The Diplomat. Click […]

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Zhao Jiaxu and Huang Chunyu, “Lessons and Thoughts from the Struggle for Command of the Sea in the Red Sea,” CMSI Translation 19 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 3 June 2025).

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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: China’s Navy is learning […]

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Andrew S. Erickson, The People of China’s Navy and Other Maritime Forces: Extended Summary of Conference Findings, China Maritime Report 47 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 28 May 2025).

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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Maritime Watchers: Want to read the findings from the China Maritime Studies […]

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The Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) has just released the Quick Look summary of its 14–15 May 2025 Conference on “The People of China’s Navy and Other Maritime Forces.”
Excerpts selected by CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):

Xi Jinping is China’s first great “navalist” statesman. He considers willingness to embrace the […]

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Li Muqiang, Yang Fulong, Qu Bin, and Zhai Dengqian, “Combine Wisdom and Join Efforts, Training in a Sea of Mines, ‘Pioneers of Breaking Obstacles’,” CMSI Translation 18 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 21 May 2025).
A Minesweeper Unit from the Northern Theater Command Navy Establishes a Joint Teaching and Training Mechanism with an Educational […]

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NEWPORT, R.I. – Panelists discuss senior leadership of the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) at the U.S. Naval War College’s (NWC) 14th biennial China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) Conference, held onboard Naval Station Newport, May 14-15. Biennial CMSI conferences serve to stimulate focused research and foster dialogue among topic experts resulting in enhanced understanding and […]

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John Chen and Joel Wuthnow, Sea Dragons: Special Operations and Chinese Military Strategy, Naval War College China Maritime Study 18 (9 May 2025).

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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:

This Red Book dives into a topic that is rarely discussed and almost never researched, the PLA’s naval special operations forces’ most […]

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Read the latest and greatest from my brilliant my Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) colleague Prof. Ryan Martinson! Review his unique insights on PLA maritime strategy and PLA Navy personnel issues as we analyze the fall of Admiral Miao Hua (苗华) and Vice Admiral Li Pengcheng (李鹏程) and watch for more shoes to […]

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Don’t miss this pithy distillation of Ryan Martinson’s cutting-edge findings concerning the PLA Navy’s closest equivalent to the U.S. Naval War College—the Naval Command College in Nanjing, where professional military education is doubling down on the fundamentals of naval operations and warfighting regarding scenarios of greatest concern. The Party commands ideological obedience and limitations persist, […]

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Ryan D. Martinson, China’s Fishermen Spies: Intelligence Specialists in the Maritime Militia, China Maritime Report 46 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 23 April 2025).

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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Military Watchers: The most common mission of China’s maritime militia is to serve as the “eyes” of […]

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Jian Huajun and Zhu Haishi, “Analysis of Problems with Warship Damage Control Plans & Methods for Preparing Damage Control Plans,” CMSI Translation 17 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 17 April 2025).
My take: Damage control is hard for ALL navies. The U.S. Navy has years of experience & emphasis. The PLA Navy grew up influenced […]

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Ian M. Easton, “Operation Causeway: Taiwan’s Wartime History and Implications for the Current Strategic Environment,” presentation at Joint Special Operations University, Tampa, Florida.

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Join us for an eye-opening discussion on Operation Causeway, the ambitious but ultimately canceled U.S. plan to invade Taiwan during World […]

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Fang Zheng, “Tracking Their Wake: How Strong Is the U.S. Navy Today?” CMSI Translation 16 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 1 April 2025).

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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
The ongoing PLA show of force around Taiwan is grabbing the headlines with Taiwan’s […]

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Over 29,600 views on YouTube as of 31 March 2025!
Captain Christopher Sharman, USN (Ret.), Director, China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI), “China’s World-Class Navy ‘in the New Era’: Ends, Ways, Means,” Issues in National Security Lecture, Naval War College, 11 February 2025.

From the presenter himself—CMSI Director Chris Sharman:
China Navy Watchers: China seeks to build a World-Class […]

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