Andrew S. Erickson

Despite its conventional-submarine-focused title, this analysis also offers deep-dive insights into why China is now focusing on nuclear submarine development by producing both larger SSNs/SSGNs/SSBNs + small/micro-reactor “SSPns” [e.g., Type 041]—the latter optimized for shallow Near Seas operations—as part of Xi’s directive to build a “world-class Navy” second not even to America’s.
As I explain in […]

Continue Reading

Zhang Debao, Sun Yunxing, and Hu Xiaolong, “Research on Integrated Defense Against Precision Strikes by the Powerful Enemy at Sea,” CMSI Translation 34 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 4 August 2026).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China PLA Watchers: What lessons are PLA […]

Continue Reading

Ming Di, “A Super-AIP Submarine Under the Bayi Flag,” CMSI Translation 33 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 22 July 2026).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: Why might China’s Navy want a new class of “small-reactor” nuclear submarines?
That question is the […]

Continue Reading

Yue Zhiqiang, Wang Li, and Li Jinqiao, “The U.S. Marine Corps Concept for ‘Stand-In Forces’—Analysis and Response,” CMSI Translation 32 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 6 July 2026).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Military Maritime Watchers: What do PLA authors publishing in […]

Continue Reading

Nan Xiang, Xie Lu, and Zhi Xi, “Joint Air and Missile Defense Operations in the Maritime Domain Must Emphasize and Strengthen the ‘Four Joint Functions’,” CMSI Translation 31 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 22 June 2026).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy […]

Continue Reading

Strategic (Power) Projection and Operational Sustainment: Perspectives on Naval Support Systems, CMSI Quarterly Review 1.5 (May 2026) (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 5 May 2026).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED PDF COPY.
From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Military Maritime Watchers:  How do Chinese authors assess China’s own capabilities to support its Navy […]

Continue Reading

Yin He, “Vision for Future Next-Generation Aircraft Carrier Supply Ships,” CMSI Translation 30 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 29 April 2026).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: How is the PLA Navy (PLAN) thinking about sustaining its fleet operating in the far […]

Continue Reading

Fascinating to see how PLA Navy experts view U.S. wargaming: “the Naval War College organizes students into red and blue teams to engage in adversarial exercises. Through these dynamic simulations, students gain an understanding of the interrelationships among specialized technical details—such as the range of the [SM-2 (Standard Missile-2)] and the performance of the E-2D […]

Continue Reading

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).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy […]

Continue Reading

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).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: Chinese Navy (PLAN) operations around Australia […]

Continue Reading

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).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: China built its newest large amphibious warship […]

Continue Reading

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).

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

Continue Reading

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).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.

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 […]

Continue Reading

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).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
This CMSI translation provides unparalleled insights into the development and […]

Continue Reading

Wang Xiangxiang, “The Elusive ‘Deep-Sea Beast’: Analysis of the Performance of the Main Equipment of the U.S. Navy Virginia-Class Nuclear Attack Submarine,” CMSI Translation 23 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 30 September 2025).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: How does […]

Continue Reading

Tan Benhang, “Implications of the U.S. Navy’s ‘Sea Base’ Construction for Equipment Support in Cross-Sea Landing Operations,” CMSI Translation 22 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 11 August 2025).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy and Marine Watchers:
China’s military seeks to become world-class […]

Continue Reading

Cai Qingjian, Miao Pingyi, and Bao Hanliang, “How to Achieve a ‘Soft Landing’ for New Recruits Joining Companies,” CMSI Translation 21 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 10 July 2025).
News Observation on an Eastern Theater Command Navy Group’s Innovative Education of New Recruits

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
From CMSI Director CAPT […]

Continue Reading

Teng Hao, Yang Liu, and Liu Zihao, “Spring Breeze Accompanies Us As We Strive Forward,” CMSI Translation 20 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 10 July 2025).
Stories of a Northern Theater Command Navy coastal defense missile regiment doing a good job educating and managing new recruits in the spring enlistment period by […]

Continue Reading

Zhao Jiaxu and Huang Chunyu, “Lessons and Thoughts from the Struggle for Command of the Sea in the Red Sea,” CMSI Translation 19 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 3 June 2025).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: China’s Navy is learning […]

Continue Reading