Archive | China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI)

17 April 2026

New CMSI Quarterly Review 1.4 (Spring 2026) Now Naval War College’s Most Popular Publication!

Great news—thanks to our loyal readers! Honored to see that CMSI has contributed 6 of the Naval War College’s top 10 most popular publications, with two great offerings by Prof. Ian Easton, as well as inputs from Prof. Ryan Martinson, Director Chris Sharman, and CMSI Affiliate Conor Kennedy.

#1, the just-released Spring issue of the CMSI Quarterly […]

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16 April 2026

New! CMSI Quarterly Review 1.4 (Spring 2026)

CMSI Quarterly Review 1.4 (Spring 2026) (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 16 April 2026).

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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Military Maritime Watchers: Check out the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI)’s Spring Quarterly Review.
The Spring issue of the CMSI Quarterly Review highlights CMSI’s latest scholarship, media […]

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03 April 2026

CMSI Conference: Probing the People of China’s Navy and Other Maritime Forces

Andrew S. Erickson, “CMSI Conference: Probing the People of China’s Navy and Other Maritime Forces,” The Bridge (Naval War College Foundation) (Fall/Winter 2025): 22–26.

The Fall/Winter 2025 issue of The Bridge features letters from RDML A.B. Cruz III, USN (Ret.), Chairman of the Naval War College Foundation (NWCF); CAPT George E. Lang Jr., USN (Ret.), NWCF […]

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24 March 2026

CMSI Translation #28: “Uphold the Idea of a Maritime Community with a Shared Destiny & Forge a New Chapter in Maritime Military Security Cooperation”

Du Bo and Wang Chenyuan, “Uphold the Idea of a Maritime Community with a Shared Destiny and Forge a New Chapter in Maritime Military Security Cooperation,” CMSI Translation 28 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 24 March 2026).

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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy […]

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25 February 2026

CMSI Note 20: “Flying Higher and Higher: VADM Cui Yuzhong—Moving Up in Complex Times”

At CMSI, we don’t just write timely “promotion reports” and “obituaries” when PLA Navy Admirals have major career developments. We also try to look forward & track rising stars—such as VADM Cui Yuzhong in this Note. We aim, at our best, to be the analytical equivalent of Wayne Gretzky, “skating to where the puck is […]

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24 February 2026

China Maritime Report #51—“The Seafarer Profession in Contemporary China”

Conor M. Kennedy, The Seafarer Profession in Contemporary China, China Maritime Report 51 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 24 February 2026).

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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Military Maritime Watchers: China’s ability to move forces, fuel, and matériel at scale depends not only on ships—but on whether […]

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23 February 2026

CMSI Translation #27: “What is the Significance of the PLAN Type 055 Destroyer Zunyi Task Force’s Distant Deployment to Australia?”

Zong He, “What is the Significance of the PLAN Type 055 Destroyer Zunyi Task Force’s Distant Deployment to Australia?” CMSI Translation 27 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 23 February 2026).

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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: Chinese Navy (PLAN) operations around Australia […]

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19 February 2026

CMSI’s Latest Book—“Chinese Amphibious Warfare”—Added to Harvard University’s Fung Library Collection

Each semester, the Fairbank Center Collection of the H. C. Fung Library at Harvard University selects new publications for acquisition. CMSI is honored that, as part of its Winter/Spring 2026 acquisitions, the Fung Library selected the latest CMSI edited volume, “Chinese Amphibious Warfare: Prospects for a Cross-Strait Invasion,” for inclusion in its world-class collection. This […]

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17 February 2026

New! CMSI Quarterly Review 1.3 (February 2026)—The Legal Struggle for China’s Maritime Power: Strategy, Sovereignty, and Enforcement

The Legal Struggle for China’s Maritime Power: Strategy, Sovereignty, and Enforcement, CMSI Quarterly Review 1.3 (February 2026) (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 17 February 2026).

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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Military Maritime Watchers: How does maritime law become an instrument of power and influence?
The China […]

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12 February 2026

CMSI Translation #26: “Sea Dragon Refits Its Armor: The Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship Ushers in a New Era”

He Yin, “Sea Dragon Refits Its Armor: The Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship Ushers in a New Era,” CMSI Translation 26 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 12 February 2026).

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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: China built its newest large amphibious warship […]

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04 February 2026

CMSI Note 19: “China’s Blue-Water Research Fleet: Science in Service of Strategy”

China’s making a big splash in the Western Hemisphere! Ryan Martinson shows how the world’s largest blue-water marine scientific research fleet operates globally, including in Latin America, undermining coastal state and American interests more broadly. Don’t miss Ryan’s unique appendix cataloguing these important but understudied ships!
Ryan D. Martinson, “China’s Blue-Water Research Fleet: Science in Service […]

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13 January 2026

New! CMSI Quarterly Review 1.2 (Winter 2026)

CMSI Quarterly Review 1.2 (Winter 2026) (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 8 January 2026).

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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
We are pleased to share the Fall/Winter double issue of the CMSI Quarterly Review, highlighting the China Maritime Studies Institute’s latest scholarship, media engagement, and institutional activities from August through […]

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08 January 2026

CMSI Note 18: “Flooding the Zone: The Use of Civilian Landing Craft (LCTs) in PLA Amphibious Operations”

Thomas Shugart and J. Michael Dahm, “Flooding the Zone: The Use of Civilian Landing Craft (LCTs) in PLA Amphibious Operations,” CMSI Note 18 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 7 January 2026).

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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China PLA Watchers: Many have argued that the PLA lacks […]

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19 December 2025

CMSI Translation #25: “A New Pillar for Distant Oceans: Concepts for the Chinese Navy’s New Generation of General-Purpose Destroyers”

Ying Tian, “A New Pillar for Distant Oceans: Concepts for the Chinese Navy’s New Generation of General-Purpose Destroyers,” CMSI Translation 25 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 18 December 2025).

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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: What kind of surface combatant does China’s […]

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14 December 2025

Two Years Running! “Chinese Amphibious Warfare” Selected for Commandant of the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program’s 2025 & 2026 Reading Lists

Honored to see our latest coedited volume, “Chinese Amphibious Warfare,” on the Commandant of the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program’s 2025 and 2026 Reading Lists!

“Explores China’s military modernization and strategic ambitions for Taiwan amid rising Great Power tensions.”
One of five books on “Great Power Competition.”
Listed under “Strategy: Examines the art of aligning ends, ways, and means […]

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09 December 2025

New Publication, With 8 Annotated Translations! CMSI Quarterly Review: “Volume 1 (2025) Maritime Geopolitics of the Belt & Road Initiative”

Maritime Geopolitics of the Belt and Road Initiative, CMSI Quarterly Review 1.1 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 9 December 2025).

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FROM THE DIRECTOR 
The China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) Translation Vault 
This series presents a curated collection of open-source Chinese-language journal and newspaper articles that were originally published […]

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01 December 2025

The China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI)’s Founding & Early Years: From Official Study—“Sailors & Scholars: The History of the U.S. Naval War College, 1884–2009, Vol. 2”

John B. Hattendorf, Sailors and Scholars: The History of the U.S. Naval War College, 1884–2009, Second Edition, Vol. 2 (Newport, RI: Naval War College Press, 2025), 546–49, 553–54; 412–13, 418, 468, 530, 640, 649, 695–96, 729.
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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Military […]

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19 November 2025

CMSI Translation #24: “Accelerating the Development of Marine Corps Combat Capabilities to Win in High-End Maritime Warfare”

Rear Admiral Zhu Chuansheng, “Accelerating the Development of Marine Corps Combat Capabilities to Win in High-End Maritime Warfare,” CMSI Translation 24 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 19 November 2025).

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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
This CMSI translation provides unparalleled insights into the development and […]

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20 October 2025

CMSI Note 17: “Replacement Removed: VADM/General Wang Houbin—Naval Star Turned Rocket Force Commander’s Terminal Trajectory”

Andrew S. Erickson and Christopher H. Sharman, “Replacement Removed: VADM/General Wang Houbin—Naval Star Turned Rocket Force Commander’s Terminal Trajectory,” CMSI Note 17 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 20 October 2025; officially published 13 November 2025).

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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
13 November 2025:
With the opening of […]

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