Hi! Welcome...

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.

02 October 2024

Quoted in Brad Dress’s Article in The Hill: “Navy Pushes to Catch up to China’s Superiority at Sea”

Brad Dress, “Navy Pushes to Catch up to China’s Superiority at Sea,” The Hill, 30 September 2024.

… … … China is likely prepar[ing] for what could be one of the more likely scenarios playing out in a Taiwan event: a Chinese blockade….
Andrew Erickson, a professor of strategy at the U.S. Naval War College’s China Maritime […]

30 September 2024

CMSI Translation #7: “Guarantee of Strategic Security: Expert Discusses China’s Strategic Nuclear Submarines Achieving Continuous Duty”

Chi Guocang, “Guarantee of Strategic Security: Expert Discusses China’s Strategic Nuclear Submarines Achieving Continuous Duty,” CMSI Translation 7 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 30 September 2024).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.

From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
This translation is rich! A must-read for anyone interested in China’s submarine operations – […]

27 September 2024

Now Out in Paperback! “Rebalancing U.S. Forces: Basing and Forward Presence in the Asia-Pacific”

Recently-retired Naval War College Press Director Dr. Carnes Lord and I are proud to publish with the Naval Institute a new paperback edition of our volume on on military basing and operations in the world’s most vital yet vulnerable region! I just re-read the book and am happy with how it lands today and looking […]

26 September 2024

China Adds Hundreds of Satellites for Use in War; Russia Building Nuke to Destroy Enemies’ Assets

China Adds Hundreds of Satellites for Use in War; Russia Building Nuke to Destroy Enemies’ Assets
Russian space nuke could damage all nations’ satellites, Space Force warns
By Bill Gertz – The Washington Times – Tuesday, September 17, 2024

China’s military is rapidly building up space capabilities, including more than 970 recently deployed satellites that would support attacks on U.S. aircraft carriers, expeditionary forces […]

19 September 2024

Lead Senior Navy School’s Research Arm through Decisive Decade of Great Power Competition—Apply Today to Become Dean, CNWS, Naval War College!

Apply now to become the next Dean, Center for Naval Warfare Studies (CNWS) at the Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, Rhode Island—the Navy’s “Home of Thought”! The next individual in this intellectually pivotal position will provide thought leadership and management for a dynamic team of scholars, analysts, international and military operational law experts, cyber specialists, war gamers, […]

18 September 2024

New Chief of Naval Operations Navigation Plan Rightly Prioritizes “Readiness for the Possibility of War with the People’s Republic of China by 2027”

Today at the Naval War College, the Chief of Naval Operations rightly directed what we must focus on. Admiral Lisa Franchetti unveiled the Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy (NAVPLAN2024). We have 834 days until 1 January 2027 and each of us has a vital role in executing this plan.
Here in Newport, the China Maritime […]

15 September 2024

Latest “Space Threat Fact Sheet” from Headquarters Space Force Intelligence

This vital authoritative report shows just how dramatically and systematically China has built up its space and counterspace assets, and just how aggressively Russia has developed and postured its own. Of fundamental concern are the sheer number of satellites China now has in orbit, particularly for ISR, as part of its systematically building out a […]

15 September 2024

Honored to Give Keynote Address—“Taiwan: The Stakes”—at SENEDIA Defense Innovation Days 2024!

Andrew S. Erickson, “Taiwan: The Stakes,” Keynote Address at Defense Innovation Days; organized by SENEDIA, The Alliance for Defense Tech, Talent, and Innovation; Newport, Rhode Island, 28 August 2024.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS.

SENEDIA Defense Innovation Days 2024 Keynote Address – Foreign Challenges by Dr. Andrew Erickson, Naval War College, China Maritime Studies Institute […]

14 September 2024

Dr. Peter Dutton, J.D. now Senior Research Scholar in Law & Senior Fellow at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center

Big news! Dr. Peter Alan Dutton, J.D., has just joined Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center as a Senior Research Scholar in Law and a Senior Fellow. This follows twenty-three years of superlative leadership, scholarship, teaching, and other academic and policy contributions at the U.S. Naval War College. His new bio is appended immediately […]

13 September 2024

Headquarters Space Force Intelligence: “Space Threat Fact Sheet”

Space Threat Fact Sheet (Washington, DC: Headquarters Space Force Intelligence, 29 April 2024). 
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED PDF.

SPACE THREAT FACT SHEET
HEADQUARTERS SPACE FORCE INTELLIGENCE
The access to and use of space is of vital national interest. Intensifying strategic competition presents a serious threat to U.S. national security interests in, from, and to space. China and […]

11 September 2024

Essence of Distinction: The Ends, Ways, and Means of China’s Military Maritime Quest

Andrew S. Erickson, “Essence of Distinction: The Ends, Ways, and Means of China’s Military Maritime Quest,” Frontiers in Political Science, 6:1448241 (11 September 2024).
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.

Essence of distinction: the ends, ways, and means of China’s military maritime quest

Andrew S. Erickson1,2*

1 Naval War College, Newport, RI, United States
2 Fairbank Center for Chinese […]

11 September 2024

CMSI Translation #6: “Building a World-Class Navy in a Comprehensive Way: Its Logic in Theory, History, and Practice”

Liu Lijiao and Jia Benjia, “Building a World-Class Navy in a Comprehensive Way: Its Logic in Theory, History, and Practice,” CMSI Translation 6 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 11 September 2024).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.

From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) Friends and […]

04 September 2024

China Maritime Report #41: “One Force, Two Force, Red Force, Blue Force: PLA Navy Blue Force Development for Realistic Combat Training”

J. Michael Dahm, One Force, Two Force, Red Force, Blue Force: PLA Navy Blue Force Development for Realistic Combat Training, China Maritime Report 41 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, September 2024).

From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China’s maritime blue force is a key component of a broader training campaign focused on building and refining the PLA Navy […]

26 August 2024

“U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South & East China Seas: Background & Issues for Congress”—Latest Info on PAFMM & CCG from Ron O’Rourke, CRS!

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, 26 August 2024).
If you have trouble accessing the website above, please download a cached copy here.
You can also click here to access […]

22 August 2024

CMSI Note 9: “On the PLAN’s ‘Core Operational Capabilities’”

Ryan D. Martinson, “On the PLAN’s ‘Core Operational Capabilities’,” CMSI Note 9 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 22 August 2024).

From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
If you read one document about China’s Navy today, read the attached China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) Note #9. CMSI Note #9 is also posted to the CMSI […]

22 August 2024

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Type 23 Military Ribbons

Edward Francis, Jennifer Chang, and Ken Allen, The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Type 23 Military Ribbons: Turning Chicken Ribs into Chicken Drumsticks (Vienna, VA: Exovera, 15 August 2024).
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.
This report analyzes the PLA’s new “Type 23” military ribbon system, implemented in January, 2023. This comprehensive study examines how the revamped system […]

15 August 2024

Coercive Annexation of Taiwan by the People’s Republic of China Would Unleash Globally Destructive Consequences, Rice Baker Institute Report Says

RICE UNIVERSITY
News and Media Relations
Office of Public Affairs

Avery Ruxer Franklin – Aug. 15, 2024
POSTED IN: RICE NEWS > Current News > 2024

Coercive annexation of Taiwan by the People’s Republic of China would unleash globally destructive consequences, Rice Baker Institute report says

A new paper from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy argues that an annexation […]

15 August 2024

CMSI Translation #5: “Strengthen National Defense Mobilization and Reserve Force Construction”

Yu Yunxian and Zhang Pengxuan, “Strengthen National Defense Mobilization and Reserve Force Construction,” CMSI Translation 5 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 14 August 2024).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED COPY.

From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) Friends and Colleagues –
The authors of this article work […]

14 August 2024

PRESS RELEASE—Dr. Andrew Erickson Awarded Navy Superior Civilian Service Medal

“PRESS RELEASE—Dr. Andrew Erickson Awarded Navy Superior Civilian Service Medal,” Jamestown Foundation, 13 August 2024.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CACHED PDF.

August 13, 2024 04:20 PM Age: 13 hours

Naval War College President Rear Admiral Peter A. Garvin Presents the Navy Superior Civilian Service Medal to Professor Andrew S. Erickson, July 29, 2024

Frequent China Brief contributor and […]