Andrew S. Erickson

Dennis J. Blasko, “‘Technology Determines Tactics’: The Relationship between Technology and Doctrine in Chinese Military Thinking,” Journal of Strategic Studies, 34.3 (June 2011): 355-81.

Does ‘doctrine drive technology’ or does ‘technology drive doctrine’? For the United States with its advanced industrial and technological base, many examples of ‘doctrine driving technology’ can be found. For the […]

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Tai Ming Cheung, “The Chinese Defense Economy’s Long March from Imitation to Innovation,” Journal of Strategic Studies, 34.3 (June 2011): 325-54.
China’s defense economy has been vigorously developing a comprehensive set of innovation capabilities that will eventually allow it to join the world’s top tier of military technological powers. China’s target is to catch up by […]

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Thomas G. Mahnken, “China’s Anti-Access Strategy in Historical and Theoretical Perspective,” Journal of Strategic Studies, 34.3 (June 2011): 299 – 323.
This article views China’s development of anti-access capabilities against the backdrop of the theory and history of military innovation. It begins with a discussion of the process of military innovation, as well as the indicators […]

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Michael C. Horowitz, The Diffusion of Military Power: Causes and Consequences for International Politics (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2010).
The Diffusion of Military Power examines how the financial and organizational challenges of adopting new methods of fighting wars can influence the international balance of power. Michael Horowitz argues that a state or actor wishing to […]

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Aaron Shraberg, “Near-Term Missions for China’s Maiden Aircraft Carrier,” Jamestown China Brief, 11.11 (17 June 2011).
As China’s maiden aircraft carrier nears its sea trials one question that evades analysts’ minds is why China is building a carrier. For many of the carrier’s potential missions: from “recovering” Taiwan; to “solving” the Paracel, Spratly and Diaoyu (Senkaku) […]

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Barry D. Watts, “The Maturing Revolution in Military Affairs,” Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, 2 June 2011.

In 1992, the Office of Net Assessment (ONA), Office of the Secretary of Defense, began circulating an assessment of a prospective late-twentieth-century military-technical revolution (MTR). Soviet military theorists had been discussing the possibility of a third twentieth-century […]

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Cdr. Scott Tait, USN, “Make Smoke!” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 137.6 (June 2011).
Borrowing a tool from the Army, the Navy could revive a long-dormant tactic to defend against the threat of today’s high-tech antiship missiles.
Two characteristics seem certain to define the military environment for the immediate future: rapid, radical technological change, and increased budget pressure […]

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Michael S. Chase, “Chinese Suspicion and US Intentions,” Survival: Global Politics and Strategy, 53.3 (June–July 2011): 133–50.
Chinese President Hu Jintao’s formal state visit to the United States in January 2011 was widely seen as the successful culmination of efforts on both sides to get the US–China relationship back on track after a rocky year. Hu […]

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Barry D. Watts, “The Implications of China’s Military and Civil Space Programs – Testimony of Barry Watts before the U.S. – China Economic and Security Review Commission,” Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, 11 May 2011.
Testimony presented before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission on May 11, 2011.

Mr. Chairman and Members of the […]

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Ronald O’Rourke, “China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress,” Congressional Research Service, 22 April 2011.
The question of how the United States should respond to China’s military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, has emerged as a key issue in U.S. defense planning. Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joints […]

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Richard Desjardins, “Acquiring Expertise on the Chinese Military,” Canadian Military Journal 11.2 (Spring 2011): 63-66.
A snapshot of Chinese military research in the West today reveals that virtually all of the research on the Chinese military is conducted in the United States. … I am therefore offering a few tips and routes to explore so that […]

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Lt. Cdr. Thomas J. Cutler, USN (Ret.), “Notable Naval Books of 2010,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 137:5 (May 2011): 64-69.
As in previous years, the list of notable naval books for 2010 was compiled, refined, and ultimately decided by a number of people, all of whom are widely recognized for their knowledge of matters pertaining to […]

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Daniel J. Kostecka, “From the Sea: PLA Doctrine and the Employment of Sea-Based Airpower,” Naval War College Review 64.3 (Summer 2011): 10-30.
Despite an impressive naval modernization over the past two decades, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) currently possesses little in the way of force-projection capabilities. The development of force projection through the acquisition of […]

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Oriana Skylar Mastro, “Signaling and Military Provocation in Chinese National Security Strategy: A Closer Look at the Impeccable Incident,” Journal of Strategic Studies, 34.2 (April 2011): 219-44.
On 8 March 2009, five Chinese vessels shadowed and aggressively maneuvered in close proximity to the US Naval Ship (USNS) Impeccable. This paper seeks to explain the incident and […]

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Mark Stokes, “Expansion of China’s Ballistic Missile Infrastructure Opposite Taiwan,” AsiaEye Blog, 18 April 2011.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Second Artillery Force appears to be in the midst of a significant expansion of its ballistic missile infrastructure opposite Taiwan. Public statements made by senior authorities in the U.S. and Taiwan indicate that the […]

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Cdr. Paul Giarra, USN (Ret.), “The Naval War College Review: Why Tom’s Harsh Assessment is Off Target,” The Best Defense: Tom Ricks’s Daily Take on National Security, 7 April 2011.
The short answer as to why you are wrong about the Naval War College Review is that, just as one example, even if the Review did […]

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Adam Segal, “China’s National Defense: ‘Intricate and Volatile’,” Asia Unbound Blog, Council on Foreign Relations, 1 April 2011.
China, in an ongoing bid to be more transparent about its military modernization, released the 2010 defense white paper, China’s National Defense in 2010, this week. …
After a quick reading, two things stand out.  First, as Andrew Erickson […]

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Michael McDevitt and Frederic Vellucci, “Two Vectors, One Navy,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 137.4 (April 2011).
Aside from a strong national defense, world peace is now part of China’s official military mission. Serving both, its fleet could eventually resemble the U.S. Navy.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) development is best understood as proceeding on two separate […]

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Lieutenant Colonel Daniel J. Kostecka, U.S. Air Force Reserve, “A Bogus Asian Pearl,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 137.4 (April 2011).
If closely assayed, the port at Gwadar, Pakistan—touted as part of China’s string of maritime gems—loses its luster, looking more like a counterfeit than the real thing.
China’s investment in the construction of the Port of Gwadar […]

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