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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.

01 April 2020

China Has World’s Largest Navy, Coast Guard & Maritime Militia—Latest ed. of “Modern Chinese Maritime Forces” Has Unmatched Detail!

Manfred Meyer (edited by Larry Bond and Chris Carlson), Modern Chinese Maritime Forces (Admiralty Trilogy Group, 1 April 2020).

“A compilation of all 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 […]

29 March 2020

New ed. of CRS Report—“China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities”—Has 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, 18 March 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 edition […]

29 March 2020

The Ryan Martinson Bookshelf: Must-Read Revelations re China’s Maritime Policies, Sea Forces & Oceanic Operations

For analysis of Chinese maritime policy and China Coast Guard development, it simply doesn’t get any better than this. Enjoy this fully updated one-stop library of my colleague Ryan Martinson’s work. It’s well worth reading all of these superb publications and interviews, even as they approach three dozen in number!
Ryan D. Martinson is an Assistant […]

29 March 2020

Counter-Intervention in Chinese Naval Strategy

Ryan D. Martinson, “Counter-Intervention in Chinese Naval Strategy,” Journal of Strategic Studies, published online 27 March 2020.
ABSTRACT
The prospect of U.S. military involvement in a regional war looms large in Chinese naval strategy. This article examines the Chinese Navy’s evolving role in countering U.S. military intervention in a conflict over Chinese-claimed offshore islands. This role has […]

28 March 2020

Dr. John W. Tai reviews “China’s Maritime Gray Zone Operations” in The Air Force Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs

Dr. John W. Tai; review of Andrew S. Erickson and Ryan D. Martinson, eds., China’s Maritime Gray Zone Operations (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2019); The Air Force Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs 3.1 (Spring 2020): 95-96.
China’s increasingly assertive—many would say aggressive—actions in the South China and East China Seas have captured the attention of the media and policy and academic […]

24 March 2020

China SignPost™ #101: “Time to Curb America’s Manufacturing Dependency on China”

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “Time to Curb America’s Manufacturing Dependency on China,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 101 (24 March 2020).
Coronavirus Crisis Offers an Opportunity to Revitalize U.S./North American Manufacturing, Restore Regional Partnerships, Reduce Dependence on Beijing
Whether between people or countries, co-dependency relationships rarely work well over time when the understandings undergirding them erode. It’s […]

23 March 2020

China SignPost™ 洞察中国 Presentation: “Pandemic & Price War: Early Energy Market Insights from the 2019-20 Wuhan Coronavirus Outbreak”

Gabriel B. Collins, “Pandemic and Price War: Early Energy Market Insights From the 2019-2020 Wuhan Coronavirus Outbreak,” Research Presentation, China SignPost™ (洞察中国), 20 March 2020. 
Click here to download full slide deck.

Executive Summary

The coronavirus is likely the biggest global oil demand shock for China and other major industrial powers in the past 50 years, exceeding even the impact of the […]

18 March 2020

Key CRS Report Offers Major China/Russia Coverage! “U.S. Role in the World: Background & Issues for Congress”

Ronald O’Rourke, U.S. Role in the World: Background & Issues for Congress R44891 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 12 March 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
The U.S. role in the world refers to the overall character, purpose, or […]

18 March 2020

Hot off the Press! New CRS Report Tackles Timely Topic: “Renewed Great Power Competition”

Ronald O’Rourke, Renewed Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense—Issues for Congress, R43838 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 12 March 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 […]

18 March 2020

New! O’Rourke’s CRS Report (102nd ed.) Offers Latest on CCG, PAFMM—“U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South & East China Seas: Background & Issues for Congress”

Now in its 102nd 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, 13 March 2020).
If you have trouble accessing […]

11 March 2020

Breaking News: WHO Finally Declares Coronavirus (COVID-19 via SARS-CoV-2) Pandemic

In the past two weeks, the number of cases of COVID-19 outside China has increased 13-fold, and the number of affected countries has tripled.  
There are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, and 4,291 people have lost their lives. 
Thousands more are fighting for their lives in hospitals.
In the days and weeks ahead, we […]

27 February 2020

New Edition of “Modern Chinese Maritime Forces” Covers World’s Largest Navy, Coast Guard & Maritime Militia in Unmatched Detail!

Manfred Meyer (edited by Larry Bond and Chris Carlson), Modern Chinese Maritime Forces (Admiralty Trilogy Group, 2020).

“A compilation of all ships and boats of the Chinese Navy, Coast Guard, Maritime Militia and other national authorities”
Check out pp. 104-06 for unique PAFMM coverage!
You can order a copy here.
Click here to download sample content.
Andrew S. Erickson, “Foreword,” in Manfred Meyer […]

19 February 2020

Office of Naval Intelligence Just Published Latest China & Russia Maritime Ship Recognition Guides

Check them out! Click here to access the China and Russia government naval/maritime ship recognition guide graphics that the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) just published!
China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), Coast Guard, and Government Maritime Forces 2019-2020 Recognition and Identification Guide (Suitland, MD: U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence, 19 February 2020).

16 February 2020

Important CRS Report with China Content: “U.S. Role in the World: Background & Issues for Congress”

Ronald O’Rourke, U.S. Role in the World: Background & Issues for Congress R44891 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 5 February 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
The U.S. role in the world refers to the […]

16 February 2020

Latest Congressional Research Service Report on Hot Topic: “Renewed Great Power Competition”

Ronald O’Rourke, Renewed Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense—Issues for Congress, R43838 (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 6 February 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 […]

16 February 2020

101st Edition of O’Rourke’s CRS Report Has Latest on CCG, PAFMM—“U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South & East China Seas: Background & Issues for Congress”

Now in its 101st iteration, not far behind its counterpart on PLA Navy development, this 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, 6 February 2020).
If you have trouble accessing the website above, please download […]

15 February 2020

Mapping the Indo-Pacific & Beyond for Decision-Makers: Andrew Rhodes Educates with Geo-History, Strategy & Visual Communications

Andrew Rhodes is a career civil servant who has served as an expert in Asia-Pacific affairs in a variety of analytic, advisory, and staff positions across the Department of Defense and the interagency. He earned a BA in political science from Davidson College, an MA in international relations from The Johns Hopkins University School of […]

15 February 2020

SECDEF Esper at Munich Security Conference: “If the PRC will not change its ways, then defending [the global] system must be our collective priority”

“Remarks by Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper at the Munich Security Conference,” U.S. Department of Defense, 15 February 2020.
Good morning, it’s a pleasure to be with you today.
I want to thank the Munich Security Conference for inviting me to speak today.
I can see that the event has grown considerably in size and scope since […]

07 February 2020

CMSI “Red Book” Monographs: Complete Set with Revamped Summaries

Ryan D. Martinson, Echelon Defense: The Role of Sea Power in Chinese Maritime Dispute Strategy, Naval War College China Maritime Study 15 (February 2018).
Since 2006, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has pursued an expansionary agenda in disputed areas of the East and South China Seas. Its primary objective: assert administrative control over all of Chinese-claimed maritime space. […]