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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 August 2011

David Axe, The Diplomat: “US ‘Misled Over Stealth Bomber’”

David Axe, “US ‘Misled Over Stealth Bomber’,” The Diplomat, 29 August 2011.
In 2008, a B-2 crashed at Guam, reducing the stealth fleet to its current level. In the wake of the accident, critics bemoaned the Pentagon’s tendency to concentrate increasing combat power in a decreasing number of ultra-expensive ‘platforms.’

In February 2010, there was another […]

29 August 2011

China SignPost™ (洞察中国) #44 Cited by Walter Russell Mead in Via Media Blog, The American Interest

Walter Russell Mead, “China’s Growth To Slow By 50 Percent?” Via Media Blog, The American Interest, 29 August 2011.
 
Key conclusions from a paper by Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson at China Sign Post… Read the whole thing.  … Of course nobody, including the Chinese, know what comes next in China, but these authors make […]

26 August 2011

Edward Wong, New York Times: “China State TV Deletes Video Implying Hacking of Western Sites”

Edward Wong, “China State TV Deletes Video Implying Hacking of Western Sites,” New York Times, 26 August 2011.
The main Chinese state television network has deleted from the Internet a video that some foreign military and Internet security analysts say implies China has engaged in hacking attacks on Web sites in the West.
The video was […]

26 August 2011

James Fallows, The Atlantic: “Update on Backups, Passwords, and Chinese Hacking”

James Fallows, “Update on Backups, Passwords, and Chinese Hacking,” The Atlantic, 26 August 2011.
… As for the “smoking cursor” video from the Chinese military that appears to show them in the middle of launching a hacking attack on U.S. sites, I encourage you to follow Andrew S. Erickson’s ongoing reports and analyses, which go into […]

26 August 2011

Chinese Aerospace Power Recommended by Eleni Ekmektsioglou in The Diplomat

Eleni Ekmektsioglou, “Understanding China,” The Diplomat, 26 August 2011.
… despite the numerous one-off articles, there hasn’t until now been a place in English that brings together all the pieces of the puzzle. That is until the recent publication by the China Maritime Studies Institute of Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles. The volume, a collection of essays, […]

26 August 2011

Tony Capaccio, Bloomberg: “China Has ‘Workable’ Anti-Ship Missile Design, Pentagon Says”

Tony Capaccio, “China Has ‘Workable’ Anti-Ship Missile Design, Pentagon Says,” Bloomberg, 25 August 2011.
China has developed a “workable design” of the world’s first anti-ship ballistic missile, potentially capable of hitting and disabling a U.S. aircraft carrier, according to Pentagon officials.
China also has satellites in place “that could provide some targeting data on large surface […]

25 August 2011

Adam Segal, Asia Unbound Blog, Council on Foreign Relations: “Sometimes It’s Not China (Though This Is Probably Not the Week To Be Saying It)”

Adam Segal, “Sometimes It’s Not China (Though This Is Probably Not the Week To Be Saying It),” Asia Unbound Blog, Council on Foreign Relations, 25 August 2011.
This week we’ve had a rash of reporting that suggests the links between the state and Chinese hackers.
Smoking Cursor: First reported in the Epoch Times, and then picked up […]

25 August 2011

Erickson and Goldstein Publish Book on Chinese Aerospace Power

“Erickson and Goldstein Publish Book on Chinese Aerospace Power,” Naval War College Public Affairs Office, 25 August 2011.
NEWPORT, R.I. – Professors Andrew Erickson and Lyle Goldstein of the U.S. Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) collaborated on a book released in July titled, “Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles.”
This edited volume offers a […]

25 August 2011

Trent Nouveau, TG Daily: “China Teases Military CyOps”

Trent Nouveau, “China Teases Military CyOps,” TG Daily, 25 August 2011.
China’s official military channel (CCTV-7) recently provided a six-second glimpse into the country’s enigmatic cyber capabilities. …
Nevertheless, analysts believe the footage – if genuine – is actually more than a decade old.
“It appeared to show dated computer screenshots of a Chinese military institute conducting […]

25 August 2011

Tania Branigan, The Guardian: “Chinese TV Programme Shows Apparent Cyber-Attack on US Website”

Tania Branigan, “Chinese TV Programme Shows Apparent Cyber-Attack on US Website,” The Guardian, 25 August 2011.
Footage that appears to feature army-labelled software raises questions about China’s denials of involvement in hacking
China’s state broadcaster has shown footage apparently featuring army-labelled software for attacking US-based websites, security experts say.
Beijing has consistently denied being behind cyber-attacks, insisting that […]

25 August 2011

Melanie Lee, Reuters: “Chinese State TV Shows Military Cyber Hacking Clip”

Melanie Lee, “Chinese State TV Shows Military Cyber Hacking Clip,” Reuters, 25 August 2011.
A six-second clip on Chinese state television has provided a rare glimpse into purported cyber hacking attacks launched by the country’s military, despite long-standing official denials that the government engages in such activity. …
It is unclear if the programme on the screen […]

25 August 2011

Did China Tip Cyber War Hand?

Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “Did China Tip Cyber War Hand?” The Diplomat, 25 August 2011.
A programme broadcast on the military channel of China’s state TV raises new questions about Beijing’s support for cyber attacks.
Amid growing US concerns over ongoing Chinese cyber attacks, attribution remains the most complex issue. At the open source […]

24 August 2011

Jeremy Page, Wall Street Journal: “China State TV Alludes to U.S. Website Attacks”

Jeremy Page, “China State TV Alludes to U.S. Website Attacks,” Wall Street Journal, 24 August 2011.
Chinese state television has broadcast footage of what two experts on the Chinese military say appears to be a military institute demonstrating software designed to attack websites in the U.S.
Although it could be a decade old or a mock-up, the […]

24 August 2011

Key Quotes from 2011 DoD Report on China’s Military

Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2011
p. 2
Ballistic and Cruise Missiles.
… By December 2010, the PLA had deployed between 1,000 and 1,200 short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) to units opposite Taiwan. To improve the lethality of this force, the PLA is introducing variants of missiles with improved ranges, accuracies, and payloads. …
p. […]

24 August 2011

Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2011 Full Text Just Released

Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2011

24 August 2011

Report on Military and Security Developments in China Released

Report on Military and Security Developments in China Released
Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:17:00 -0500
________________________________
 No. 072-11          August 24, 2011               
Report on Military and Security Developments in China Released
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (East Asia) Michael Schiffer will hold a press briefing today on the 2011 DoD Report to Congress on the “Military and Security Developments […]

24 August 2011

China SignPost™ (洞察中国) #46: “A Smoking Cursor? New Window Opens on China’s Potential Cyberwarfare Development–CCTV 7 program raises new questions about Beijing’s support for hacking”

Andrew S. Erickson and Gabriel B. Collins, “A Smoking Cursor? New Window Opens on China’s Potential Cyberwarfare Development: CCTV 7 Program Raises New Questions About Beijing’s Support for Hacking,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 46 (24 August 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
The positions expressed here are the authors’ personal views. They do not represent the U.S. Naval War College, […]

22 August 2011

William Choong, Straits Times: “Reasons to Fear China’s Aircraft Carrier”

William Choong, “Reasons to Fear China’s Aircraft Carrier,” Straits Times, 19 August 2011.
Last week, China said it had deployed its first aircraft carrier for an inaugural sea trial. Speaking at a Chinese Defence Ministry briefing last month, Colonel Geng Yansheng stressed that the carrier would be used for “research, experiment and training” and would not […]

22 August 2011

David Axe, The Diplomat: “China, the US and Transparency”

David Axe, “China, the US and Transparency,” The Diplomat, 22 August 2011.
Lately, every major Chinese military development has provoked the same response from the US government. The American reaction to the appearance of new aircraft, ships and missiles is to ask, essentially, ‘What’s it for?’ …
But this lack of transparency can cut both ways, according […]