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.

19 September 2011

David Axe, Wired Danger Room: “Secret Sats, Giant Rockets: U.S. Unveils Space War Arsenal”

David Axe, “Secret Sats, Giant Rockets: U.S. Unveils Space War Arsenal,” Danger Room, Wired.com, 19 September 2011.
…the U.S. government revealed new and formerly secret space initiatives that underscore America’s continuing orbital dominance. NASA announced plans for the biggest-ever rocket, set to launch in six years. Meanwhile, the hush-hush National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), keeper of America’s […]

19 September 2011

China SignPost™ (洞察中国) #47–A Chinese “Heart” for Large Civilian and Military Aircraft: Strategic and commercial implications of China’s campaign to develop high-bypass turbofan jet engines

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “A Chinese ‘Heart’ for Large Civilian and Military Aircraft: Strategic and Commercial implications of China’s Campaign to Develop High-bypass Turbofan Jet Engines,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 47 (19 September 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Deep Dive—Special In-Depth Report #3
This in-depth report analyzes China’s prospects for building large turbofan jet engines for civilian aircraft, […]

17 September 2011

PLA Daily Offers Latest Details on “Peace Ark” Hospital Ship’s 1st Medical Mission to Caribbean

Wang Zhenjiang and Dai Zongfeng; Cui Xinwen, editor; “‘Peace Ark’ Hospital Ship to Visit Latin America,” Liberation Army Daily, 16 September 2011.
The navy emblem is shining and the navy songs are loud and clear. All people of the “Peace Ark” hospital ship of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) held an oath-taking […]

16 September 2011

Eight Bells Lecture Examines Growth of China Air Power

John Kennedy, “Eight Bells Lecture Examines Growth of China Air Power,” Newport Navalog, 16 September 2011, 18-19.
The 2011-2012 season of the Eights Bells Lecture Series at the Naval War College Museum opened last week with a presentation of Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles.
Given by Professor Andrew Erickson, a co-editor with Professor Lyle Goldstein for […]

16 September 2011

PLAN Hospital Ship “Peace Ark” (“和平方舟”号医院船) Embarks on 3-Month Navy Medical Service Mission in Caribbean

China’s first purpose-built hospital ship, the 10,000-ton Type 920 Daishandao (岱山岛号)-class Peace Ark (和平方舟/AHH 866), has left on a three-month voyage. It will call on ports in Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica as part of “Harmonious Mission -2011” (和谐使命—2011). This is China’s first operational naval mission to the Caribbean, and an interesting new use of its increasing […]

14 September 2011

Council on Foreign Relations Rates “China’s S-Shaped Threat” a “Must Read”

Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “China’s S-Shaped Threat,” The Diplomat, 6 September 2011, has been designated a “Must Read” by the Council on Foreign Relations.
Analysts of international relations have focused lately on China’s potential challenges to the international system. But China’s greatest challenges may in fact be internal. The implications will be significant.
China is […]

09 September 2011

Video Just Posted of Eight Bells Book Lecture on Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles

Prof. Andrew S. Erickson, “Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles,” Eight Bells Book Lecture, Naval War College Museum, 8 September 2011.
This talk by Dr. Andrew S. Erickson, China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI), introduced Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles, the 5th volume in the Naval Institute Press Series “Studies in Chinese Maritime Development.” This is […]

06 September 2011

“Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles,” Eight Bells Book Lecture, Naval War College Museum Second Deck, Newport, RI, Thursday 8 September 2011, 12:00 p.m.

This talk by Dr. Andrew S. Erickson, China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI), will introduce his new co-edited volume Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles. This is the first book to address both the Chinese aerospace challenge and its implications for U.S. naval strategy.
This is the first event in a new season of the 8 Bells […]

06 September 2011

Asian Alliances in the 21st Century

Dan Blumenthal with Randall Schriver, Mark Stokes, L.C. Russell Hsiao and Michael Mazza, Asian Alliances in the 21st Century (Arlington, VA: Project 2049 Institute, 2011).
Asia will become the epicenter of geopolitical activity in the 21st century and the budding U.S.-China security rivalry, conditioned by deep economic interdependence, will shape the region’s future. The United States […]

06 September 2011

Air Power Trends in Northeast Asia: Implications for Japan and the U.S.-Japan Alliance

Oriana Skylar Mastro and Mark Stokes, Air Power Trends in Northeast Asia: Implications for Japan and the U.S.-Japan Alliance (Arlington, VA: Project 2049 Institute, 2011).
The shifting balance of aerospace power in Northeast Asia is creating an increasingly uncertain strategic environment for Japan. Japan is warily eyeing China’s growing military might while also vigilantly watching Russia’s […]

06 September 2011

Feng, PLA Blogspot: “China and Vietnam”

Feng, “China and Vietnam,” PLA Blogspot, 21 August 2011.
This is the second part in my series to talk about what I gathered from the recent readings. Since last year, there have been increased amount of noise from ASEAN countries about China’s increased assertiveness in the area. The most vocal of those countries is Vietnam. That […]

06 September 2011

From Shanghai to Somalia: China’s Contributions to the Security of Seaborne Commerce in Asia and Beyond

Andrew S. Erickson, “From Shanghai to Somalia: China’s Contributions to the Security of Seaborne Commerce in Asia and Beyond,” in 沈丁立, 张贵洪, 主编 [Shen Dingli and Zhang Guihong, eds], 亚洲国际关系的重构 [Restructuring of International Relations in Asia] (Shanghai: 上海人民出版社 [Shanghai People’s Press], 2011), 241-75.
China is contributing increasingly to the security of the global maritime commons as a […]

06 September 2011

China’s S-Shaped Threat

Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “China’s S-Shaped Threat,” The Diplomat, 6 September 2011.
Analysts of international relations have focused lately on China’s potential challenges to the international system. But China’s greatest challenges may in fact be internal. The implications will be significant.
China is assumed by many to be destined to overtake the US as […]

06 September 2011

5 Star Review of Chinese Aerospace Power by Harry Kazianis, Deputy Editor, e-International Relations

Harry Kazianis, “Review: Chinese Aerospace Power, Evolving Maritime Roles,” 5 Stars, e-International Relations, 6 September 2011.
Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles edited by Andrew Erickson and Lyle Goldstein takes on the timely subject of Chinese aerospace technology and its role in the creation of a modern Chinese naval maritime force. Both editors are well respected […]

05 September 2011

Feng, Information Dissemination: “Evolution of PLAAF Doctrine/Training”

Feng, “Evolution of PLAAF Doctrine/Training,” Information Dissemination, 31 August 2011.
This is the part 4 in the series of reviewing the content of the recent book that I read. I will be looking at the evolution of PLAAF training and doctrine. This is one area that is hard to write about, because we simply don’t have […]

05 September 2011

Feng, Information Dissemination: “China/Russia Military Cooperation”

Feng, “China/Russia Military Cooperation,” Information Dissemination, 28 August 2011.
This is the part 3 in the series of reviewing the content of the recent book that I read. In the past, I have often been harsh toward the recent China/Russia military cooperation. I have frequently stated that the Russians have limited military technology that it can […]

05 September 2011

Feng, Information Dissemination: “The Legacy of Liu Huaqing”

Feng, “The Legacy of Liu Huaqing,” Information Dissemination, 20 August 2011.
Recently, I’ve read a couple of books regarding the development of Chinese air force. … Over the next few weeks, I plan to write several entries on different aspects of PLAAF modernization. The first topic that I decided to make is the legacy of Liu Huaqing, […]

04 September 2011

Assessing China’s Response to U.S. Reconnaissance Flights

Kenneth Allen and Jana Allen, “Assessing China’s Response to U.S. Reconnaissance Flights,” Jamestown China Brief (2 September 2011).
On June 29, 2011, for the first time in a decade, a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force (PLAAF) J-11 crossed the center line of the Taiwan Strait in an attempted intercept of a U.S. Air Force (USAF) […]

01 September 2011

Chinese Aerospace Power Highlighted by Bradley Perrett in Aviation Week ASBM Analysis

Bradley Perrett, “Pacific Projections: Could—And Would—China Target U.S. Ships with its DF-21D Ballistic Missile?” Aviation Week & Space Technology, 29 August-5 September 2011: 67-68.
China’s DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile system presents one of the world’s most decisive challenges in the field of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), with potentially far-reaching consequences for international affairs. …
The main […]