Andrew S. Erickson

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Xinjiang Poised to Become China’s Largest Coal Producer: Will Move Global Coal, Natural Gas, and Crude Oil Markets,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 65 (20 September 2012).
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Key points:

In 2011, Xinjiang produced 120 million tonnes of coal. In our base case estimate, Xinjiang will produce ~240 million […]

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Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Wyoming and Montana Could Become Major New Coal Suppliers to China and the Asian Market—If They Can Obtain Port Access,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 64 (4 September 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Wyoming and Montana have the reserves and production to become significant coal suppliers to China and East Asia […]

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Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “North-Central China Offers Massive Market Opportunity for Mongolian Coal Miners,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 63 (21 August 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Mongolia’s massive and low-cost coal reserves are well-positioned to serve seven nearby Chinese provinces with more than one billion tonnes of annual coal demand
On 7 June 2012, Mongolian […]

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Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Spaceplane Development Becomes a New Dimension of Emerging U.S.-China Space Competition,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 62 (16 August 2012).
Deep Dive–Special In-Depth Report #4
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Spaceplane development is becoming the newest frontier in the emerging space development competition between the U.S. and China. Winged spaceplanes operate as […]

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Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Can Inland Consumption Soften Coastal Industrial Slump? China’s Weak Earthmover Sales and Poor Coal Demand Point to More Economic Turbulence, But Second and Third Tier Property Markets Show Flashes of Life,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 61 (14 August 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
With Chinese consumers holding on to […]

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Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Downturn to ‘New Normal’? China’s Consumer Economy is Rolling Over and Sales of Chicken, Cars, and Shoes Are Taking a Hit,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 60 (1 August 2012).
Beijing is likely to come under more significant pressure to implement stimulus measures as key parts of the consumer economy slow. […]

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Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “China’s Rising Seaborne Food and Fuel Imports: Propelling Naval Expansion?” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 59 (12 May 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Strategic Horizon 1C: The U.S.-China relationship will be central to international relations in the twenty-first century, as the two great Asia-Pacific powers compete, coexist, and cooperate across […]

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Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “Shenlong ‘Divine Dragon’ Takes Flight: Is China Developing its First Spaceplane?” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 58 (4 May 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
The age of the spaceplane upon us, and it is trans-Pacific, with the U.S. and China the only current active participants. Winged spaceplanes operate as spacecraft […]

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Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Tilling Foreign Soil: New Farmland Ownership Laws Force Chinese Agriculture Investors to Shift Strategies in Argentina and Brazil,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 57 (28 March 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Chinese consumers’ growing appetite for meat is driving increased grain imports, which is great news for corn and soybean growers in Argentina and […]

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Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “Tango for Trade, Samba for Sales: Strategic Implications of China’s Growing Investment and Commercial Ties in Latin America,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 45 (19 August 2011); reprinted in Asia Connect 1 (Spring 2012): 70-76.
Asia Connect Magazine is issued quarterly with primary objective to stimulate global business by bringing quality, innovation and influence […]

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Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “China’s Economic Environment: Implications for Military Development,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 56 (14 March 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Strategic Horizon 1B: The U.S.-China relationship will be central to international relations in the twenty-first century, as the two great Asia-Pacific powers compete, coexist, and cooperate across the full spectrum of national capabilities. While […]

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Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “Near Seas ‘Anti-Navy’ Capabilities, not Nascent Blue Water Fleet, Constitute China’s Core Challenge to U.S. and Regional Militaries,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 55 (6 March 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Strategic Horizon 1A: The U.S.-China relationship is central to international relations in the twenty-first century, as the two great Asia-Pacific powers compete, coexist, […]

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Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Supersize Me: Rising Fast Food Sales Suggest China Will Keep Driving a Global Farm Commodity Boom,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 54 (9 February 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Chinese consumers are rapidly changing their diets as disposable income rises and fast food items from Western companies like Yum Brands are playing a […]

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Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Cornering Commodities Markets: For China, Xstrata/Glencore deal would have larger impact than Facebook IPO,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 53 (7 February 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Facebook’s plans to go public are a headline grabber, but in terms of fundamental global economic impact, the proposed US$90 billion merger between two Zug, Switzerland-based […]

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Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Digging In: Earthmover Sales Reflect Risks to China’s Economic Growth,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 52 (17 January 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©

Earthmover sales are a useful economic indicator because China’s construction and fixed asset-driven economy is very heavy equipment-intensive. Also, construction machines are not a speculative asset in the way copper and […]

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Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “China’s Growing Meat Consumption is Driving Corn Imports and Creating a New Strategic Dependency,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 51 (2 January 2012).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
China will likely import 3.0 million tonnes of corn in the 2011/12 market year, more than triple the amount it took in 2010/11 (USDA).  As Chinese consumers […]

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Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “New Access for U.S. Forces in Australia: Is it driven by China?” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 50 (14 November 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
What is happening?
A substantial enhancement in US-Australia military ties first referred to approximately one year ago now appears to be materializing.  A range of media outlets report that President […]

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Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Electric Bikes are China’s Real Electric Vehicle Story,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 49 (7 November 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Along with its booming market for petroleum-fueled autos, China is also a global leader in promoting greater use of electric and alternative fuel vehicles. Automakers are responding to the government’s ambitious objective to […]

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Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Transparency is Not Just for the Military: Improved Commodity Data Reporting from China Good for Chinese and Global Consumers Alike,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 48 (14 October 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Just last week, the China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association estimated the country’s copper reserves at year-end 2010 to have been […]

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