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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.

29 May 2020

Press Conference Transcript on China, Hong Kong, and the WHO—“Remarks by President Trump on Actions Against China”

“Remarks by President Trump on Actions Against China,” The White House Rose Garden, Washington, DC, 2:48 p.m. EDT, 29 May 2020.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Good afternoon. Thank you. I’m here today to talk about our relationship with China and several new measures to protect American security and prosperity.
China’s pattern of misconduct is well […]

25 May 2020

The Hong Kong Watch Floor

The clock is ticking toward an unclear, but clearly worrisome, future. As Beijing prepares to implement a popularly-opposed National Security Law that effectively invalidates core One Country, Two Systems-promised protections, risks are mounting for Hong Kongers. Under assault: some of their most cherished values and freedoms, and Hong Kong’s much-touted status as Asia’s World City.
Hong Kong’s […]

22 May 2020

China’s Official 2020 Defense Budget to Rise 6.6% to $178 Billion (1.27 Trillion Yuan): Lowest Growth Rate Since 1988 Exceeds All Other Major Nations’

Andrew S. Erickson, “China’s Official 2020 Defense Budget to Rise 6.6% to $178 Billion (1.27 Trillion Yuan): Lowest Growth Rate Since 1988 Exceeds All Other Major Nations’,” China Analysis from Original Sources 以第一手资料研究中国, 22 May 2020.
The draft budget report disseminated today at Beijing’s Two Sessions annual meeting of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and National […]

21 May 2020

United States Strategic Approach to the People’s Republic of China

Be sure to read this hard-hitting document in full!
STATEMENTS & RELEASES
Text of a Letter to Certain Congressional Committees on the United States Strategic Approach to the People’s Republic of China
NATIONAL SECURITY & DEFENSE
Issued on: May 21, 2020
May 19, 2020
Dear Mr. Chairman:  (Dear Madam Chairwoman:)
Consistent with section 1261 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year […]

20 May 2020

Should the United States Reduce Its Dependence on China?

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Should the United States Reduce Its Dependence on China?” Policy Matters podcast, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, 19 May 2020.
The Covid-19 pandemic has reignited the debate about our national dependence on Chinese raw materials and manufactured goods. Why should we be concerned about such dependence? […]

20 May 2020

Dragon Against the Sun: Chinese Views of Japanese Seapower

As one might expect from Dr. Yoshihara, this is a superb analysis of a vital yet under-researched topic. Its compelling arguments are well supported with a panoply of important Chinese publications, together with references to landmark Japanese works. In an era in which Chinese-language sources are increasingly prized but not always contextualized and curated effectively […]

15 May 2020

“Renewed Great Power Competition”—Latest Edition of Important New CRS Report

Ronald O’Rourke, Renewed Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense—Issues for Congress, R43838 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 1 May 2020).
If you have trouble accessing the website above, please download a cached copy here.
You can also click here to access the report via the new public CRS website.
Summary
Many observers have concluded that the post-Cold War era of international relations—which […]

15 May 2020

Ron O’Rourke’s New CRS Report (*105th ed.) Has Latest on CCG, PAFMM—“U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South & East China Seas: Background & Issues for Congress”

Now in its 105th iteration, not far behind its counterpart on PLA Navy development, this 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, 1 May 2020).
If you have trouble accessing […]

11 May 2020

Energy Dimensions of the Evolving U.S.-China Strategic Relationship

Andrew S. Erickson, “Energy Dimensions of the Evolving U.S.-China Strategic Relationship,” Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, presentation in webinar via Zoom, 8 May 2020.
Click here to watch the webinar on YouTube.
Gabriel Collins of the Baker Institute’s Center for Energy Studies and Andrew Erickson of the U.S. Naval […]

06 May 2020

It’s Official: Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) Seeks New Director—Apply by 22 June!

Faculty Position Vacancy (Director of the China Maritime Studies Institute, SORD, CNWS)
Click here to read the full ad!
View posting in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Job announcement number:  VA#NWC-20-07
Department:  Strategic and Operational Research Department, Center for Naval War Studies
Location:  U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI
PP-Series-GR:  AD-1701-05/07
Open Period:  Wednesday, 6 May 2020 through Monday, 22 June 2020
Position:  […]

24 April 2020

New CRS Report Out Today—“China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities”—Projections to 2030 from Office of Naval Intelligence!

Ronald O’Rourke, China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress, RL33153 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 24 April 2020).
Having trouble accessing the website above? Please download a cached copy here!
You can also click here to access the report via the new public CRS website.
In addition to his continuous incremental improvements, Ronald O’Rourke has revised this latest […]

24 April 2020

Published Today! O’Rourke’s CRS Report (*103rd ed.) Offers Latest on CCG, PAFMM—“U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South & East China Seas: Background & Issues for Congress”

Now in its 103rd iteration, not far behind its counterpart on PLA Navy development, this 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, 24 April 2020).
If you have trouble accessing […]

24 April 2020

Latest Edition of Hot New CRS Report: “Renewed Great Power Competition”

Ronald O’Rourke, Renewed Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense—Issues for Congress, R43838 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 7 April 2020).
If you have trouble accessing the website above, please download a cached copy here.
You can also click here to access the report via the new public CRS website.
Summary
Many observers have concluded that the post-Cold War era of international relations—which […]

23 April 2020

Economic Statecraft: Options for Reducing U.S. Overdependence on Chinese-supplied Materials and Medications

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, Economic Statecraft: Options for Reducing U.S. Overdependence on Chinese-supplied Materials and Medications (Houston, TX: Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, 23 April 2020).

This policy report explains how specific tools of economic statecraft can be applied to reduce risks caused by dependence on People’s Republic of China-dominated supply chains […]

15 April 2020

Apollo 13’s Lifeboat Fifty Years On: Remembering Grumman’s Lunar Module and Program Director Joe Gavin

I saw the movie Apollo 13 with him. Now let me tell you the forgotten story of how he and his team helped rescue the astronauts while the world watched and waited…
Andrew S. Erickson, “Apollo 13’s Lifeboat Fifty Years On: Remembering Grumman’s Lunar Module and Program Director Joe Gavin,” China Analysis from Original Sources 以第一手资料研究中国, 15 […]

10 April 2020

The Complete Peter Dutton Bookshelf: China’s Law of the Sea Approaches, Maritime Sovereignty Claims and Operations & Geostrategy

For nearly two decades, Naval War College professor (2004-) and former China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) director (2011-19) Peter A. Dutton has played a leading role in analyzing and interpreting China’s disputed island and maritime sovereignty claims, efforts to promote them, and broader geostrategic goals and trajectory. He has done so for the scholarly and policy communities, […]

07 April 2020

The China Maritime Militia Bookshelf: Latest Data & Official Statements + My Fact Sheet & Recommendations

CHINA’S MARITIME MILITIA: DATA & ANALYSIS

Tracking China’s “Little Blue Men”—A Comprehensive Maritime Militia Compendium
As Coronavirus rages on, 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, it is to be hoped that governments whose nations’ ships have […]

03 April 2020

CMSI China Maritime Report #6: “Djibouti: China’s First Overseas Strategic Strongpoint”

A superb new contribution from my colleagues!
Peter A. Dutton, Isaac B. Kardon, and Conor M. Kennedy, Djibouti: China’s First Overseas Strategic Strongpoint, China Maritime Report 6 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, April 2020).
China’s first overseas strategic strongpoint at Djibouti is a secure commercial foothold on the African continent and a military platform for expanding […]

02 April 2020

Japanese Translation of “China’s Maritime Gray Zone Operations”—中国の海洋強国戦略:グレーゾーン作戦と展開 (日本語)

アンドリュー・S・エリクソン (編集), ライアン・D・マーティンソン (編集), 五味 睦佳 (翻訳), 大野 慶二 (翻訳), 木村 初夫 (翻訳), 五島 浩司 (翻訳), 杉本 正彦 (翻訳), 武居 智久 (翻訳), 山本 勝也 (翻訳) [Andrew S. Erickson (Editor), Ryan D. Martinson (Editor), Gumi Mutsuka (Translator), Ohno Keiji (Translator), Kimura Hatsuo (Translator), Goto Koji (Translator), Sugimoto Masahiko (Translator), Tomohisa Takei (translator), and Katsuya Yamamoto (translator)]; 中国の海洋強国戦略:グレーゾーン作戦と展開 (日本語) [China’s Maritime Power Strategy: Strategy and Deployment in Gray Zone (Japanese translation of China’s Maritime […]