Andrew S. Erickson

Ma Liang, Guo Liqiang, Zhang Hui, Yang Jing, and Liu Jian, “Discussion on the Requirements and Methods of Intelligent Decision-Making in Torpedo Attacks by Unmanned Underwater Vehicles,” CMSI Translation 3 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 14 May 2024).
All authors work at the PLAN Submarine Academy. First author Ma Liang is a […]

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Eli Tirk and Daniel Salisbury, PLAN Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft—Sensors, Weapons, and Operational Concepts, China Maritime Report 38 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, May 2024).

About the Authors
Mr. Eli Tirk is a research analyst at the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI). His main research areas include the PLA Air Force, PLA naval aviation, […]

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The PLA Navy’s Blue Team Center Games for War
Naval Command College “Blue Team” experts sometimes go so far as to wear OpFor uniforms during wargames. 
By Ryan D. Martinson
May 2024
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings
Vol. 150/5/1,455

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has embraced wargaming with an almost religious zeal. PLAN leaders vigorously promote the use of wargaming methods […]

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CMSI Translation #2: Dominating the Battlefield—The Advantages of Unmanned Intelligent Combat Forces

Zhao Xiangang
Su Yanqin

Publication Date
April 2024

Translator’s Note
This article was part of a series of articles published by People’s Navy for the purpose of helping Chinese naval personnel to understand the characteristics of intelligent warfare and grasp the implications of Xi Jinping’s 20th Party Congress report […]

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CMSI Translation #1: The “Cans” and “Cannots” of the Military Application of Artificial Intelligence

Zhang Long
Publication Date
April 2024

Translator’s Note
This article was part of a series of articles published by People’s Navy for the purpose of helping Chinese naval personnel to understand the characteristics of intelligent warfare and grasp the implications of Xi Jinping’s 20th Party Congress […]

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New resource from Newport! Go straight to the source, in the PLA Navy’s own words… Check out the first two published translations in CMSI’s new product line! We bring you expertly-translated English versions of two articles from a series in Beijing’s official naval newspaper to help PRC naval personnel understand fundamental characteristics of intelligent warfare […]

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Jie Gao and Kenneth W. Allen, Re-Engaging With the World: China’s Military Diplomacy in 2023, China Maritime Report 37 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, April 2024).

From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
CMSI is pleased to provide you with China Maritime Report (CMR) #37, Re-Engaging With the World – China’s Military Diplomacy in 2023.
This […]

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PLA Military Diplomacy During 2023
Kenneth W. Allen
Introduction
As the People’s Republic of China (PRC) enters 2024, it is important to know how the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted its military diplomacy during 2023 in order to support the Chinese Communist Party (CCP aka CPC). Therefore, this report provides information concerning the PLA’s military diplomacy during 2023 […]

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Andrew S. Erickson, “Admiral Wang Renhua: Exemplifying Jointness and Oversight for China’s Navy amid Xi’s Grade-and-Rank Reforms,” CMSI Note 5 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 11 April 2024).

From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) Friends and Colleagues –
CMSI is pleased to provide you with CMSI Note #5. It elucidates […]

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Devin Thorne, China’s T-AGOS: The Dongjian Class Ocean Surveillance Ship, China Maritime Report 36 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, March 2024).
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A FULL-TEXT PDF.

About the Author
Mr. Devin Thorne is a Principal Threat Intelligence Analyst with Recorded Future. He specializes in the use of publicly available Chinese-language sources to […]

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A vital, under-researched subject has just been given what we at CMSI call the “Mike Dahm Treatment”! Come for the eye-watering 41 Figures, peruse the 26 Tables, stay for the penetrating analysis…
J. Michael Dahm, Beyond Chinese Ferry Tales: The Rise of Deck Cargo Ships in China’s Military Activities, 2023, China Maritime Report 35 (Newport, RI: […]

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Conor M. Kennedy, “Deck Cargo Ships: Another Option for a Cross-Strait Invasion,” CMSI Note 4 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 8 February 2024).

From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
Deck cargo ships. It’s possible you know little about them. Virtually absent from discussions about cross-Strait contingencies is any reference to how deck cargo ships […]

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Julia M. Famularo, “‘Choose the Right Person, Choose the Right Path’: Taiwan’s Cross-Strait, National Security & Defense Policies Under a Lai/Hsiao Administration,” CMSI Note 3 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 19 January 2024).

From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
While much has been written about last Saturday’s Presidential elections in Taiwan, few have dared […]

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Andrew S. Erickson, “Tracking China’s ‘Little Blue Men’—A Comprehensive Maritime Militia Compendium,” China Analysis from Original Sources 以第一手资料研究中国, 17 January 2024.

American & Allied knowledge of the PRC’s Third Sea Force has come a long way since my outstanding Naval War College colleague Professor Conor Kennedy & I began our focused research following his arrival in Newport in […]

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Christopher H. Sharman and Terry Hess, PLAN Submarine Training in the “New Era”, China Maritime Report 34 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, January 2024).

On the afternoon of June 11, 2018, PRC President and CMC Chairman, Xi Jinping climbed aboard a SHANG-class submarine in Qingdao. While aboard, he discussed submarine training with […]

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Andrew S. Erickson and Christopher H. Sharman, “Admiral Dong Jun Engages Friends and Foes: China’s First Naval Defense Minister Brings Joint Operational Experience,” CMSI Note 2 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 30 December 2023).

From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has a new leader – and he is a Navy guy!

On […]

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Christopher H. Sharman and Andrew S. Erickson, “Admiral Hu to the Helm: China’s New Navy Commander Brings Operational Expertise,” CMSI Note 1 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 27 December 2023).

Republished in The Maritime Executive. Click here to listen to this 13:16 “Top Story.”
Quoted by Radio Free Asia.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A FULL-TEXT […]

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David C. Logan, China’s Sea-Based Nuclear Deterrent: Organizational, Operational, and Strategic Implications, China Maritime Report 33 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, December 2023).

About the Author
Dr. David C. Logan is Assistant Professor of Security Studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. His research focuses on nuclear weapons, […]

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Perfect timing following the 2023 Pentagon China Military Power Report’s long overdue, first-ever mention of the numerous, highly-impactful PCH191 (AKA PHL-16 close-range ballistic missile/CRBM): “The PLAA used its new PCH191 long-range rocket artillery system during live fire events along China’s east coast as a response to the U.S. CODEL in August 2022. The new long-range […]

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