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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.

15 September 2007

Why Taiwan? Geostrategic Rationales for China’s Territorial Integrity

Alan Wachman, Why Taiwan? Geostrategic Rationales for China’s Territorial Integrity (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 15 September 2007).
Why has the PRC been so determined that Taiwan be part of China? Why, since the 1990s, has Beijing been feverishly developing means to prevail in combat with the U.S. over Taiwan’s status? Why is Taiwan worth fighting […]

01 September 2007

China’s Maritime Evolution: Military and Commercial Factors

Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel Collins, “China’s Maritime Evolution: Military and Commercial Factors,” Pacific Focus 22.2 (Fall 2007): 47-75.

Required reading for the Naval War College Joint Military Operations Department’s Joint Land, Air, and Sea Simulation (JLASS) Fall Elective (FE) 535A.

China is rapidly emerging as a maritime power, with global commercial and regional military influence. Historically preoccupied […]

10 August 2007

China: A New Maritime Partner?

Lyle J. Goldstein, “China: A New Maritime Partner?,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, Vol. 133, No. 8 (August 2007).
The U.S. Coast Guard is opening the door to a cooperative relationship with China.
China’s maritime development is gathering steam. It is challenging South Korea and Japan for dominance of the global shipbuilding market. More than 1,700 ships carry […]

01 August 2007

Assessing the Threat: The Chinese Military and Taiwan’s Security

Roy D. Kamphausen and Justin Liang, “PLA Power Projection: Current Realities and Emerging Trends,” pp. 111-52, chapter 5 in Michael D. Swaine, Andrew N. D. Yang, and Evan S. Medeiros, with Oriana Skylar Mastro, Assessing the Threat: The Chinese Military and Taiwan’s Security (Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1 August 2007).
Since at least […]

01 August 2007

Tanking Up: The Commercial and Strategic Significance of China’s Growing Tanker Fleet

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Tanking Up: The Commercial and Strategic Significance of China’s Growing Tanker Fleet,” Geopolitics of Energy 29.8 (August 2007): 2-11.
This article analyzes China’s plans to control the entire oil supply chain in order to guarantee its oil supply during times of crisis and probes the underlining factors that shape China’s […]

01 July 2007

An Accessible Window into Chinese Military Thought: The Science of Military Strategy

Andrew S. Erickson, “An Accessible Window into Chinese Military Thought,” review of Peng Guangqian and Yao Youzhi, eds., The Science of Military Strategy (Beijing: Military Science Press, 2005), Naval War College Review 60.3 (Summer 2007): 133-34.
Since this book has deliberately been made accessible to an overseas audience, it is important to reflect on what message its English-language […]

29 May 2007

China’s Focus on Aircraft Carriers

Richard Halloran, “China’s Focus on Aircraft Carriers,” Real Clear Politics, 28 May 2007.
… The U.S. Navy had nearly 800 planes crash in training accidents in 1954 during the transition from propeller driven aircraft to jet aircraft, say Andrew Erickson and Andrew Wilson, who are on the faculty of the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, […]

30 April 2007

China’s Submarines

Richard Halloran, “China’s Submarines,” Real Clear Politics, 29 April 2007.
… “Submarines currently dominate China’s naval development,” say analysts Andrew Erickson and Andrew Wilson, writing in a recent US Naval War College Review. China has long been rumored to be eager to build aircraft carriers but for now, these analysts say, discussion of submarines “is much […]

20 April 2007

China’s Future Nuclear Submarine Force (CMSI Vol. 1)

Andrew S. Erickson, Lyle J. Goldstein, William S. Murray, and Andrew R. Wilson, eds., China’s Future Nuclear Submarine Force (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2007).

Kindle edition now available!
These and several other chapters are required reading for the Naval War College Strategy and Policy Department’s Senior and Intermediate Leadership Courses.
Volume cited in Wikipedia’s “Type 094 Submarine” entry.

Coauthor of:

Andrew S. […]

30 March 2007

China Cyberspace, Outerspace War Gains Impress: U.S.

Paul Eckert, “China Cyberspace, Outerspace War Gains Impress: U.S.,” Washington Post, 29 March 2007.

30 March 2007

A Statement Before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission

Andrew S. Erickson, A Statement Before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, “PLA Modernization in Traditional Warfare Capabilities” panel, “China’s Military Modernization and its Impact on the United States and the Asia-Pacific” hearing, Washington, DC, 29 March 2007, 72-78; published in 2007 Report to Congress of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, 110th Congress, 1st Session, November […]

16 March 2007

Office of Naval Intelligence Report: “China’s Navy 2007”

China’s Navy 2007 (Suitland, MD: Office of Naval Intelligence, March 2007).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.

07 March 2007

Space as a Strategic Asset

Joan Johnson-Freese, Space as a Strategic Asset (New York: Columbia University Press, 7 March 2007).
Joan Johnson-Freese argues that the race for space weapons and the U.S. quest for exclusive or at least dominant ownership of strategic space assets have alienated the very allies that the United States needs in order to maintain its leading role […]

07 February 2007

China’s Future Nuclear Submarine Force: Insights from Chinese Writings

Andrew S. Erickson and Lyle J. Goldstein, “China’s Future Nuclear Submarine Force: Insights from Chinese Writings,” Naval War College Review 60.1 (Winter 2007): 54-79.
Cited in the following Wikipedia entries: “Nuclear Submarine,” “Submarines of the People’s Liberation Army Navy,” “Type 091 Submarine,” “Type 092 Submarine,” “Type 093 Submarine,” “Type 095 Submarine,” and “Peng Pai.”
On 26 October 2006, a Chinese […]

01 February 2007

China’s ‘Undersea Sentries’: Sea Mines Constitute Lead Element of PLA Navy’s ASW

Andrew S. Erickson, Lyle J. Goldstein, and William S. Murray, “China’s ‘Undersea Sentries’: Sea Mines Constitute Lead Element of PLA Navy’s ASW,” Undersea Warfare 9 (Winter 2007): 10-15.
Traditionally a continental power, Beijing has not wielded strong naval forces in the modern era. But this is beginning to change now and China is making rapid strides, particularly […]

01 February 2007

Book Review: Japan’s Sea Lane Security, 1940-2004: A Matter of Life and Death?

Andrew S. Erickson, review of Euan Graham, Japan’s Sea Lane Security, 1940-2004: A Matter of Life and Death? (New York: Routledge, 2006), Naval War College Review 60. 1 (Winter 2007): 153-54.
This is an exciting issue at a dynamic time: in October 2004, Japan’s Maritime Self- Defense Force (MSDF) and coast guard led Northeast Asia’s first Proliferation Security […]

15 January 2007

Combating a Truly Collective Threat: Sino-American Military Cooperation Against Avian Influenza

Andrew S. Erickson, “Combating a Truly Collective Threat: Sino-American Military Cooperation Against Avian Influenza,” Global Health Governance: The Scholarly Journal for the New Health Security Paradigm 1.1 (January 2007).
This essay seeks to increase awareness among Western scholars, analysts, and policy makers concerning both the potential danger posed by an outbreak of avian influenza, and Sino-American efforts […]

15 January 2007

Book Review: China’s Nuclear Future

Andrew S. Erickson, review of Paul J. Bolt and Albert S. Willner, eds., China’s Nuclear Future (Boulder, CO: Lynne Reinner Publishers, 2006), The China Journal 57 (January 2007): 241-43.
China’s Nuclear Future, edited by Paul J. Bolt and Albert S. Willner. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2006. x + 221 pp. Aus$88.00/US$52.00 (hardcover).
This edited volume, with contributions from […]

29 December 2006

White Paper—China’s National Defense in 2006

China’s National Defense in 2006
Issued by the Information Office of the State Council
People’s Republic of China
December 29, 2006
Preface
I. The Security Environment
II. National Defense Policy
III. China’s Leadership and Administration System for National Defense
IV. The People’s Liberation Army
V. People’s Armed Police Force
VI. National Defense Mobilization and Reserve Force
VII. Border and Coastal Defense
VIII. Science, Technology and Industry for […]