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Andrew S. Erickson China's rapid development is reshaping the world in all dimensions. Chinese language open sources offer insights into these critical trends. While such materials are increasing constantly in number, diversity, and sophistication, only a fraction is available in English. The analyses available here, many based on sources not previously considered outside China, are designed to help bridge that gap--and thereby increase understanding of the most dynamic great power in the international system today.

19 August 2010

PLA Expands Network of Military Reconnaissance Satellites

Russell Hsiao, “PLA Expands Network of Military Reconnaissance Satellites,” Jamestown Foundation China Brief, Vol. 10, No. 17 (19 August 2010).
On August 9, China launched the remote sensing satellite Yaogan-10 (military designation: Jianbing) into orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. … This event marks the sixth Chinese launch this year via the CZ-4C Chang Zheng-4C […]

18 August 2010

U.S. Department of Defense: China Must Successfully Integrate ASBM with C4ISR to Achieve “Operational and Effective System”

DOD Background Briefing on Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China
U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
Presenter: Senior Defense Official, 16 August 2010
SR. DEFENSE OFFICIAL NO. 1: “…the PLA is also developing the capability to attack at long ranges military forces that might deploy or […]

18 August 2010

Background Briefing on U.S. Department of Defense Report on China’s Military

DOD Background Briefing on Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China
U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
Presenter: Senior Defense Official, 16 August 2010
MODERATOR:  All right.  Just as a reminder, I saw many of you many this morning, and indicated that, you know, the China Military […]

18 August 2010

China Goes to Sea Praised by Malcolm Murfett in International Journal of Maritime History

Malcolm H. Murfett, National University of Singapore, review of Andrew S. Erickson, Lyle J. Goldstein, and Carnes Lord, eds., China Goes to Sea: Maritime Transformation in Comparative Historical Perspective (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2009); International Journal of Maritime History, Vol. 22, No. 1 (June 2010), pp. 384-86.
…an excellent book of two distinct halves! … […]

17 August 2010

Key Quotes from 2010 U.S. Department of Defense Report on China’s Military

Navy
“The PLA Navy has the largest force of principal combatants, submarines, and amphibious warfare ships in Asia.” (p. 2)
“Construction of a new PLA Navy base on Hainan Island is essentially complete. The base is large enough to accommodate a mix of attack and ballistic missile submarines and advanced surface combatants. The base, which has underground […]

17 August 2010

ASBM-Relevant Content from 2010 U.S. Department of Defense Report on China’s Military

“Augmented by direct acquisition of foreign weapons and technology, [defense industry] reforms have enabled China to develop and produce advanced weapon systems that incorporate mid-1990s technology in many areas, and some systems—particularly ballistic missiles—that rival any in the world today.” (p. 43)
“Production trends and resource allocation appear to favor missile and space systems….” (p. 44).
“China […]

17 August 2010

China Signpost 洞察中国™ #2–Looking After China’s Own: Pressure to Protect PRC Citizens Working Overseas Likely to Rise

Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “Looking After China’s Own: Pressure to Protect PRC Citizens Working Overseas Likely to Rise,” China Signpost 洞察中国™ 2 (17 August 2010).
China Signpost 洞察中国™–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Numerous Chinese citizens are entering Africa and other conflict-prone areas, both as employees of large corporations and as individual entrepreneurs in pursuit of […]

16 August 2010

U.S. Department of Defense Releases 2010 Report on China’s Military

Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China
2010
A Report to Congress Pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2010
A Report to Congress Pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
Executive Summary

Over the past 30 years, China has […]

09 August 2010

Observing a Systems Approach to Naval Power

Galrahn, “Observing a Systems Approach to Naval Power,” Information Dissemination, 9 August 2010.
… The US Navy won’t say it, for whatever reason, but China is how they measure themselves. In a perfect world, the US Navy wouldn’t need to measure itself against any single nation – but with everything driven by budgets rather than strategy […]

03 August 2010

Mark Stokes and Tiffany Ma: “Second Artillery Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile [ASBM] Brigade Facilities Under Construction in Guangdong?”

Mark Stokes and Tiffany Ma, “Second Artillery Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile Brigade Facilities Under Construction in Guangdong?” AsiaEye—The Official Blog of the Project 2049 Institute, 3 August 2010.
As the PRC’s Ministry of National Defense seems to be warming to the notion of discussing a possible withdrawal of missiles opposite Taiwan, the People’s Liberation Army’s primary strategic […]

01 August 2010

Actively Safeguarding Sea Lane Security: China’s Contribution to Fighting Piracy in the Gulf of Aden

Andrew S. Erickson, “积极保护航海安全: 中国在亚丁弯海域打击海盗的贡献” [Actively Safeguarding Sea Lane Security: China’s Contribution to Fighting Piracy in the Gulf of Aden],  in 中国孙子兵法研究会 [China Research Society on Sun Tzu’s Art of War], 孙子兵法与和谐世界–第八届孙子兵法国际研讨会论文集 [Sun Tzu’s Art of War and a Harmonious World—Collected Papers from the 8th International  Symposium on Sun Tzu’s Art of War] (Beijing: 军事科学出版社 [Military […]

21 July 2010

The New U.S. Maritime Strategy Surfaces (Portuguese/Português Version)

陆儒德 [Lu Rude], “美海上新战略浮出水面” [O Surgimento de Uma Nova Estratégia Marítima para os Estados Unidos (The New U.S. Maritime Strategy Surfaces)], 人民海军 [People’s Navy] (27 November 2007): 3. Translated by Andrew Erickson, in Paul D. Taylor, ed., Perspectivas sobre Estratégia Marítima: Ensaios das Américas, a nova estratégia marítima dos EUA e comentário sobre Uma Estratégia Cooperativa para o Poder […]

13 July 2010

Chinese Sea Power in Action: the Counter-Piracy Mission in the Gulf of Aden and Beyond

Andrew S. Erickson, “Chinese Sea Power in Action: the Counter-Piracy Mission in the Gulf of Aden and Beyond,” in Roy Kamphausen, David Lai, and Andrew Scobell, eds., The PLA at Home and Abroad: Assessing the Operational Capabilities of China’s Military (Carlisle, PA: U.S. Army War College and National Bureau of Asian Research, July 2010), 295-376.

Chinese translation of […]

13 July 2010

New Volume on “The PLA at Home and Abroad” Released at U.S. Capitol on 13 July

Roy Kamphausen, David Lai, and Andrew Scobell, eds., The PLA at Home and Abroad: Assessing the Operational Capabilities of China’s Military (Carlisle, PA: U.S. Army War College and National Bureau of Asian Research, July 2010).
The editors of the volume discussed its contents on 13 July 2010 at the South Congressional Meeting Room, U.S. Capitol […]

12 July 2010

CMSI ‘Red Book’ #6: “U.S.-China Maritime Confidence Building: Paradigms, Precedents, and Prospects”

David Griffiths, U.S.-China Maritime Confidence Building: Paradigms, Precedents, and Prospects, Naval War College China Maritime Study 6 (July 2010).
As two great powers that will influence much of the immediate future of our small and vulnerable planet, China and the United States are in a marriage of sorts. Like it or not, the two societies depend on each other. […]

09 July 2010

China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress

Ronald O’Rourke, “China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress,” Congressional Research Service, 9 July 2010.
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. The issue is of particular importance […]

08 July 2010

Erickson Interview on U.S.-China Relations Released by Brown University’s Watson Institute

Andrew S. Erickson, interview, “U.S.-China Relations,” in “China on the World Stage: Weighing the U.S. Response,” Scholars Online, Choices Program, Watson Institute, Brown University, Providence, RI, March 2009.
You can gain access to complete interview footage, as well as to the rest of Choices Program online content, by clicking here and registering for a free account.
The […]

06 July 2010

Chinese Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Firing as Part of Combined Arms Anti-Carrier Exercises in East China Sea, 30 June-5 July

A new window into Chinese naval combined arms operations involving warships and fighter jets opened recently in the East China Sea. There the PLA carried out “live firing training” in a relatively small box-shaped area off Zhejiang Province between Zhoushan and Taizhou, within China’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the East China Sea from 30 June-5 July. The core […]

02 July 2010

CMSI Research Featured Extensively in U.S.-Japan Navy Friendship Association (JANAFA) Bulletin

“連載記事 (米国から見た中国のSea Power)” [Paper Series: “Chinese Sea Power as Viewed from America”], U.S.-Japan Navy Friendship Association (JANAFA) Bulletin, No. 38 (1 July 2010), pp. 8-30.
“中国のSea Powerに関する米海軍大学中国海洋研究所の論文紹介” [An Introduction to the U.S. Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute’s Research Paper Series on Chinese Sea Power], pp. 8-9.
“公開論文1: 中国の活発な造船工業についての包括的調査–商業的開発と戦略的関連” [Published Paper 1: A Comprehensive Survey of […]