Andrew S. Erickson

The last decade has seen the reemergence of Russia from its post-Cold War malaise. In this environment, it is vital that the U.S. and its partners develop a clear understanding of the strategic and operational factors that shape Russia’s approach to maritime issues and that drive Russian military and foreign policy decision making.
At sea, Russia […]

The Russian Navy – A Historic Transition
ONI’s most recent unclassified report on Russia’s navy, The Russian Navy – A Historic Transition, looks historically and currently at the role played by Russian naval forces. It is the first such report discussing the Russian Federation Navy by ONI since the seventh and last issue of Understanding Soviet […]

A comprehensive order of battle containing all aircraft in service over the previous seven decades right up to now in Moscow’s Naval Aviation (AVMF), Military Air Force (VVS), Air Defense Forces (PVO), and Long-Range Aviation (DA). Use this unique and timely unclassified reference for open source research and war gaming!
Larry Bond, Chris Carlson, and Peter […]

A comprehensive compendium of Moscow’s naval ships and associated missiles/weapons & sensors from seven decades ago to right now, as you’ve never seen them before… Consult this unparalleled unclassified reference for analysis or war gaming today! 
Larry Bond, Chris Carlson, and Peter Grining, eds., Russia’s Navy: The Soviet and Russian Navy, 1955 – Present Day (Admiralty Trilogy Group, […]

Bottom line up front: Virtue signaling is no substitute for deterrence signaling!
Andrew S. Erickson, “Putin’s Ukraine Invasion Underscores: Nuclear Posture Review Must Preserve (Extended) Deterrence 100%, Avoid Dangerous ‘Sole Purpose’ Language, etc.,” China Analysis from Original Sources 以第一手资料研究中国, 24 February 2022.
As tonight’s unfolding Ukraine tragedy underscores only too starkly, the Biden Administration must preserve deterrence, including […]

Rear Admiral Eric A. McVadon, Jr. was a Naval Aviator, Vietnam War veteran, Commanding Officer of Naval Station Keflavik (Iceland), and celebrated U.S. Defense Attaché in Beijing (1990–92). With his deep experience, thoughtfulness, and infectious enthusiasm, he was a valued mentor to many China Hands.

True to form, he was also a great friend and supporter […]

Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States (Washington, DC: The White House, 11 February 2022).
Click here to read Twitter thread with key quotes from document.
Download a cached copy here.
Background Press Call
Fact Sheet

BRIEFING ROOM
Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials Previewing the U.S.’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
FEBRUARY 11, 2022 • STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

11:07 A.M. EST
MODERATOR:  Thanks, everyone, for joining us.  As […]

Andrew S. Erickson, “Tracking China’s ‘Little Blue Men’—A Comprehensive Maritime Militia Compendium,” China Analysis from Original Sources 以第一手资料研究中国, 28 January 2022.

Amid wave after wave of Coronavirus variants, fishy things have been happening across the South and East China Seas, home to virtually all of China’s unresolved maritime disputes. Since Beijing remains far from being fully forthcoming and transparent, I hope […]

Now in its 138th (!) iteration, this periodically-updated Library of Congress report is indispensable for policy-makers and analysts alike!

Ronald O’Rourke, U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South and East China Seas: Implications for U.S. Interests—Background and Issues for Congress, R42784 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 18 January 2022).
If you have trouble accessing the website above, please download a cached copy […]

John Chen and Joel Wuthnow, Chinese Special Operations in a Large-Scale Island Landing, China Maritime Report 18 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, January 2022).

About the Authors
John Chen is Chief of Data Solutions and a Lead Analyst at Exovera’s Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis, where he works on foreign policy, national […]

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 […]

Paul Nantulya’s incisive work curates and analyzes revealing information on an array of important and timely but hitherto under-researched topics, following PRC activities across the continent that will contribute the vast majority of new people to the world during this century!
Andrew S. Erickson, “The Paul Nantulya Bookshelf: Elucidating China-Africa Relations with Unique Insights,” China Analysis […]

“A Powerful Chinese Navy Is Ready to Flex Its Muscles,” ANI News, 3 January 2022.
Hong Kong, January 3 (ANI): Last year was a phenomenal one for China’s navy – the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) – with approximately 170,000 tonnes’ worth of new  ships commissioned in 2021. … … …
With all these new vessels, … the […]

Manfred Meyer (edited by Larry Bond and Chris Carlson), Modern Chinese Maritime Forces (Admiralty Trilogy Group, 1 January 2022).

“A compilation of ships and boats of the Chinese Navy, Coast Guard, Maritime Militia and other state authorities”
In terms of ship numbers, each of China’s three sea forces is the world’s largest by a large margin. For the […]

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, U.S.-China Competition Enters the Decade of Maximum Danger: Policy Ideas to Avoid Losing the 2020s (Houston, TX: Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, 20 December 2021).
As China’s relative power peaks during this decade, Xi Jinping is likely to make a catastrophic move against Taiwan if he calculates that his […]

Tom Fox, The PLA Army’s New Helicopters: An “Easy Button” for Crossing the Taiwan Strait? China Maritime Report 17 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, December 2021).
In this report, U.S. Army Major Tom Fox examines the feasibility of a PLA Army air assault across the Taiwan Strait.

About the Author
Maj. Tom Fox is […]

Updated text added 18 April 2023:

Office of the Secretary of Defense, Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2022 (Washington, DC: Department of Defense, 29 November 2022), pp. 37–38:
“…the new 2027 goal…did likely shift the PLA’s development of certain capabilities within the categories of the integrated development of mechanization, informatization, and intelligentization. If realized, this achievement […]

Don’t miss the latest Martinson masterpiece: Pathbreaking analysis in Asian Security on coordination between China’s Navy and Coast Guard in “gray zones” at sea! Reveals both substantial improvements and lingering limitations… Prof. Ryan Martinson’s cutting-edge insights offer a unique “feel” for precise PRC capabilities, shortfalls & trends… an analytical x-factor that’s all-too-hard to come by!
Ryan […]

The international community keeps a close watch on China’s security policy and its military trends. The Japanese public has been increasingly aware of the large impact of China’s rising military (and economic) power that may have a huge impact on Japanese security. China, now the second largest economy in the world, has become an essentially […]