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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
J. Michael Dahm and Thomas Shugart, “Bridges Over Troubled Waters: Shuiqiao-Class Landing Barges in PLA Navy Amphibious Operations,” CMSI Note 14 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 20 March 2025).
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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
If you read one report about China’s military developments today, read CMSI […]
K. Tristan Tang, “PLA Navy Enhances Realistic Combat Training: Observations of PLA Navy Operations Around Taiwan,” CMSI Note 13 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 13 March 2025).
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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Navy Watchers: What might an increase in Chinese Navy operations around Taiwan suggest […]
Brilliant analysis by my China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) colleague. Illuminates critical topic: Taiwan-relevant China Maritime Militia developments right across the Strait in Fujian Province!
Ryan D. Martinson, “Fujian Unveils Incentives for Militia Training for a Cross-Strait Campaign,” Jamestown China Brief 25.5 (15 March 2025).
Executive Summary:
Fujian Province’s new “Measures for Guaranteeing Militia Rights and Interests” aim […]
Qian Xiaohu, Mo Xiaoliang, Wang Guanbiao, and Liu Bin, “Inscribing Loyalty While Endeavoring to Advance into the Deep Blue,” CMSI Translation 15 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 12 March 2025).
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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
The Party Committee aboard PLAN warships plays an […]
The Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI)’s publications are always free of charge, copyright-free, publicly released-distribution unlimited—and also available here!
CMSI publishes penetrating insights related to China’s military maritime developments through academic research using Chinese-language sources.
CMSI research informs U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps civilian and military leaders, and educates the joint force’s next […]
Honored to see our new coedited volume “Chinese Amphibious Warfare” added to the Commandant of the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program’s 2025 Reading List!
Chinese Amphibious Warfare: Prospects for a Cross-Strait Invasion by Andrew S. Erickson, et al.
This study explores key questions concerning Beijing’s determined pursuit of the Chinese Communist Party’s ultimate political and strategic prize: […]
Ryan D. Martinson, “War without Surprises—Education for Command in the People’s Liberation Army Navy,” Naval War College Review 77.3 (Summer/Autumn 2024): 14–27.
In the lead article for a special double issue of Naval War College Review, published in commemoration of the Naval War College’s 140th anniversary, CMSI Professor Ryan Martinson analyzes the professional development of China’s […]
Ian Easton, “Finally, A PLA Navy Missile Gap?” CMSI Note 12 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 20 February 2025).
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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
CMSI is pleased to provide you with our latest CMSI Note.
This short CMSI Note is written about a special report published this month in […]
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 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 drop…
For analysis of Chinese […]
Jonathan Robinson, The PLA Navy’s Hospital Ship Fleet: Concerns, Developments, and Future Prospects, China Maritime Report 45 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 10 February 2025).
From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
What do you know about the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) hospital ship fleet? What ships are a part of the PRC’s hospital ship […]
Liu Xue and Li Mingyu, “Manual for Developing Ship Captains,” CMSI Translation 14 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 6 February 2025).
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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
How much do you know about the training, career path, and development of People’s Liberation Army Navy […]
Christopher H. Sharman and Andrew S. Erickson, Dirty But Preparing to Fight: VADM Li Pengcheng’s Downfall Amid Increasing PLAN Readiness, China Maritime Report 44 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 24 January 2025).
Naval War College’s second-most-popular publication with over 1,700 downloads and counting.
From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
The drumbeat of China’s Navy leaders purged for […]
2025 Samuel B. Griffith Foundation Reading List
Purpose. To establish a list of recommended readings related to the legacy and scholarship of Brigadier General Samuel B. Griffith II, USMC (ret). This list will be reviewed by the Foundation annually and amended as needed to include key books, publications, and other media associated with Samuel Griffith’s life […]
Chinese Undersea Warfare: Development, Capabilities, Trends
Maritime Gray Zone Operations: Challenges and Countermeasures in the Indo-Pacific
Oxford Bibliography: “The People’s Liberation Army (PLA)”
China’s Climate Cooperation Smokescreen: A Roadmap for Seeing Through the Trap and Countering with Competition
Large-Scale Amphibious Warfare in Chinese Military Strategy
Rebalancing U.S. Forces: Basing and Forward Presence in the Asia-Pacific
China’s Near Seas Combat Capabilities
Chinese Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) Development: Drivers, Trajectories and Strategic Implications
Asia’s Rising Energy and Resource Nationalism: Implications for the United States, China, and the Asia-Pacific Region
Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles
China’s S-Curve Trajectory: Structural Factors Will Likely Slow the Growth of China’s Economy and Comprehensive National Power
China, the United States, and 21st-Century Sea Power: Defining a Maritime Security Partnership
China Goes to Sea: Maritime Transformation in Comparative Historical Perspective
China’s Energy Strategy: The Impact on Bejing’s Maritime Policies
China’s Future Nuclear Submarine Force
Chinese Mine Warfare: A PLA Navy 'Assassin’s Mace' Capability
China’s Nuclear Force Modernization
