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.
Thomas J. Culora and Andrew S. Erickson, “Arms and Influence at Sea,” Foreign Affairs, July/August 2009.
To the Editor:
Robert Kaplan (“Center Stage for the Twenty-first Century,” March/April 2009) correctly underscores the Indian Ocean’s strategic importance. But in envisioning “dynamic great-power rivalry” between Beijing and New Delhi there, he is too pessimistic about the United States’ ability […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “China’s Military Development: Maritime and Aerospace Dimensions,” keynote address at Defense Forum Foundation, B-339 Rayburn House Office Building, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, 17 July 2009.
Summary of Presentation
China is achieving a rapid if uneven revolution in maritime and aerospace capabilities. These capabilities are divided among China’s Second Artillery, Air Force, Navy, General Armaments Department—and even the ground forces, to […]
The Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute is proud to publish with the Naval Institute a new paperback edition of the most historically- and globally-oriented volume in our “Studies in Chinese Maritime Development” series to date!
Come for the maps, stay for the history—and the lessons for where China’s navy may be headed today and tomorrow!
We’ve shared our findings with all who […]
Michèle Flournoy and Shawn Brimley, “The Contested Commons,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, Vol. 135, No. 7 (July 2009).
Two officials from the Office of the Secretary of Defense look at a changing and challenging world and what it means for the future of American power.
“Important Chinese ASBM Article,” Information Dissemination, 25 June 2009.
When Andrew Erickson is talking about Chinese ASBM development with comprehensive analysis, it is always a must read. This is from the section in the article “Making an ASBM Work.” … Just in this section there are all kinds of important things being said, but I want […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “Chinese ASBM Development: Knowns and Unknowns,” Jamestown China Brief 9.13 (24 June 2009): 4-8.
China wants to achieve the ability, or at minimum the appearance of the ability, to prevent a U.S. carrier strike group (CSG) from intervening in the event of a future Taiwan Strait crisis. China may be closer than ever to […]
Andrew S. Erickson and Michael Chase, “China’s SSBN Force: Transitioning to the Next Generation,” Jamestown China Brief 9.12 (10 June 2009).
China’s undersea deterrent is undergoing a generational change with the emergence of the Type-094, or Jin-class, which represents a substantial improvement over China’s first-generation Type-092, or Xia-class, nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). Launched in the early 1980s, […]
Andrew S. Erickson and Michael S. Chase, “An Undersea Deterrent? China’s Emerging SSBN Force,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 135.4 (June 2009): 36-41.
China’s investment in a nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine force and the accompanying infrastructure indicates a major effort to take the boats to sea.
Increasingly aggressive Chinese harassment of U.S. survey vessels came to a head on 8 […]
Hans M. Kristensen, “A Chinese Seabased Nuclear Deterrent?,” FAS Strategic Security Blog, 1 June 2009.
The magazine U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings has an interesting article about China’s nuclear ballistic missile submarines written by Andrew S. Erickson and Michael Chase from the U.S. Naval War College. And I’m not just saying that because they reference several of […]
This seminal analysis is destined to become a classic in the field. I consult it frequently when researching Chinese naval development, and commend it most highly to anyone serious about understanding the subject.
Nan Li, “The Evolution of China’s Naval Strategy and Capabilities: From ‘Near Coast’ and ‘Near Seas’ to ‘Far Seas’,” Asian Security 5.2 (May 2009): […]
John Pomfret, “China’s Military Game Changer?” Pomfret’s China, 28 May 2009.
PostGlobal is an experiment in global, collaborative journalism, a running discussion of important issues among dozens of the world’s best-known editors and writers. It aims to create a truly global dialogue, drawing on independent journalists in the countries where news is happening–from China to Iran, […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “Facing a New Missile Threat from China (Op-Ed): How the U.S. Should Respond to China’s Development of Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile Systems,” CBS News, 28 May 2009.
Authoritative Chinese military documents suggest that Beijing has taken a serious interest in anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs). U.S. government sources state consistently that Beijing is pursuing an […]
“BMD From the Sea–It’s Not Just for SWOs,” Air Warfare, Steeljaw Scribe, 27 May 2009.
It is time for Naval Aviation to become more than interested bystanders and step up to the plate for the ballistic missile defense mission. For those who have been otherwise engaged or looking elsewhere, the cover and main article in the […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “Chinese Naval Mine Warfare: A PLA Navy ‘Assassin’s Mace,’” presented at Mine Warfare Association (MINWARA) Spring 2009 Regional Conference, “Mine Warfare—‘Home’ and ‘Away’ Game Challenges,” Panama City, FL, 19 May 2009.
After a lengthy hiatus lasting nearly six centuries, China is reemerging as a maritime power. The heart of the Beijing’s accelerating naval […]
James R. Holmes, Andrew C. Winner, and Toshi Yoshihara, Indian Naval Strategy in the Twenty-first Century (New York: Routledge, 11 May 2009).
This is the first academic study of India’s emerging maritime strategy, and offers a systematic analysis of the interplay between Western military thought and Indian maritime traditions.
By a quirk of historical fate, Europe […]
Roy Kamphausen, David Lai, and Andrew Scobell, Beyond the Strait: PLA Missions other than Taiwan (Carlisle, PA: Army War College and National Bureau of Asian Research, 30 April 2009).
While preventing independence likely remains the central aim of the PLA vis-a-vis Taiwan, Chinese foreign policy objectives worldwide are rapidly growing and diversifying. This volume analyzes the […]
Andrew S. Erickson and David D. Yang, “On the Verge of a Game-Changer,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 135.3 (May 2009): 26–32.
This article won the U.S. Naval Institute 2009 General Prize Essay Contest (Third Prize).
Almost from the earliest days of the Naval Institute, its essay contests have been one of its most important functions. On 13 June […]
WTOP Radio Interview with Dr. Andrew S. Erickson
“China’s New Nuclear Submarines,” on-air interview, WTOP Radio Station, Washington, DC, April 24, 2009.
Interview on all-news formatted broadcast radio station serving the metropolitan Washington, DC area. Topics covered include Chinese submarine development, the PLA Navy’s April 2009 Fleet Review in Qingdao, the 8 March 2009 “Impeccable Incident” in […]
Andrew S. Erickson and Lyle J. Goldstein, “Gunboats for China’s New ‘Grand Canals’? Probing the Intersection of Beijing’s Naval and Energy Security Policies,” Naval War College Review 62.2 (Spring 2009): 43-76.
This article won the Naval War College Foundation Capt. Hugh G. Nott Prize (honorable mention) in 2009.
China’s seaborne energy imports have become as vital a lifeline […]
Chinese Undersea Warfare: Development, Capabilities, Trends
Maritime Gray Zone Operations: Challenges and Countermeasures in the Indo-Pacific
Oxford Bibliography: “The People’s Liberation Army (PLA)”
China’s Climate Cooperation Smokescreen: A Roadmap for Seeing Through the Trap and Countering with Competition
Large-Scale Amphibious Warfare in Chinese Military Strategy
Rebalancing U.S. Forces: Basing and Forward Presence in the Asia-Pacific
China’s Near Seas Combat Capabilities
Chinese Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) Development: Drivers, Trajectories and Strategic Implications
Asia’s Rising Energy and Resource Nationalism: Implications for the United States, China, and the Asia-Pacific Region
Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles
China’s S-Curve Trajectory: Structural Factors Will Likely Slow the Growth of China’s Economy and Comprehensive National Power
China, the United States, and 21st-Century Sea Power: Defining a Maritime Security Partnership
China Goes to Sea: Maritime Transformation in Comparative Historical Perspective
China’s Energy Strategy: The Impact on Bejing’s Maritime Policies
China’s Future Nuclear Submarine Force
Chinese Mine Warfare: A PLA Navy 'Assassin’s Mace' Capability
China’s Nuclear Force Modernization
