Andrew S. Erickson

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “How Do the Economic Outputs of China’s 8 Most Productive Cities Compare to Those of U.S. Cities?” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 41 (29 July 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Economic discussions involving the U.S. and China often focus on national-level matters such as currency valuation, duties, and trade policy. Yet decisions and […]

Hu Yinan and Li Xiaokun, “Carrier Set for Maiden Voyage,” China Daily, 28 July 2011.
China is making use of an obsolete aircraft carrier that was bought from Ukraine and is being refitted for scientific research and training purposes, a top military spokesman said on Wednesday.
The undated photo released by Xinhua News Agency on Wednesday shows […]

This is simply the best net assessment of Sino-American undersea warfare capabilities that I have yet seen. If you only have time to read one study on this vital subject, it should be Coté’s. He offers valuable education on relevant technologies and related principles for all but the most specialized experts.
Owen R. Coté Jr., “Assessing […]

Craig Guthrie, “US in ‘Denial’ over China’s Pacific Strategy,” Asia Times, 28 July 2011.
HUA HIN, Thailand – Reports that China is close to achieving the same spy satellite capabilities as the United States and making advances in its drone and missile technologies are feeding into US theories that Beijing is pursuing a multi-faceted strategy to […]

David Axe, “China’s Plan to Beat U.S.: Missiles, Missiles and More Missiles,” Danger Room, Wired.com, 27 July 2011.
China is militarily weaker than many people think, especially compared to America. This, despite lots of showy jet prototypes and plenty of other factory-fresh equipment.
But Beijing has a brutally simple — if risky — plan to compensate for […]

David Axe, “Stealth Fighter or Bomber?” The Diplomat, 26 July 2011.
A photo from a Chinese aerospace exhibit, posted on an Internet forum, provides the first new evidence in more than six months regarding the role and capabilities of China’s first stealth fighter prototype. …
Many of China’s most impressive weapons developments in recent years, including the […]

Jonathan F. Solomon, Defending the Fleet from China’s Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile: Naval Deception’s Roles in Sea-Based Missile Defense, M.A. thesis, Georgetown University, 15 April 2011.
This thesis project tests the hypothesis that U.S. Navy active missile defenses’ utility against China’s Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) reconnaissance-strike system can be significantly increased when paired with emerging Electronic Warfare (EW) […]

Richard R. Burgess, Managing Editor, “Books Detail Chinese Naval Strategy,” Seapower 54.7 (July 2011), 49.
The rise of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is attracting the attention of strategists and scholars who are trying to understand and explain its capabilities and intentions and how they impact the global balance of power. Chinese sea power is […]

國防部「國防報告書」編纂委員會 [Ministry of Defense, “National Defense Report” Editorial Board], 中華民國壹百年國防報告書 [Republic of China Centennial 2011 National Defense Report] (Taipei: 國防部 [Ministry of Defense], 2011).
p. 60
ROUGH ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
1. Mainland Chinese Military Capability
4. Second Artillery Strike Capability
Under the guidance of [the] “both conventional and nuclear missions” [concept], [the Second Artillery] continues to develop MIRVed intercontinental ballistic missiles, […]

Robert Karniol, “China Defense Industry Faces Homemade Engine Troubles,” China Post, 20 July 2011.
SINGAPORE — …China’s defense industry can … design, develop and produce propulsion systems for relatively simple military platforms — certain transport aircraft, patrol boats, some types of main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers. But high-performance combat aircraft, destroyers and similarly demanding […]

J. Michael Cole, “Official Confirms ‘Carrier Killer’ is Being Developed,” Taipei Times, 14 July 2011.
People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Chief of General Staff Chen Bingde (陳炳德) confirmed earlier this week that China was developing the Dong Feng 21D anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM), the first Chinese official to publicly state that the missile is in development. …
Although […]

Greg Torode, “‘Carrier Killer’ Missile May Give China Powerful Edge,” South China Morning Post, 15 July 2011.
While PLA chief Chen Bingde’s remarks about China’s aircraft carrier development hogged attention during the visit by his US counterpart this week, it was his confirmation that the military is developing a missile able to hit carriers that has […]

Bradley Perrett, “China Details Anti-ship Missile Plans,” Aviation Week & Space Technology, 15 July 2011.
For more than a century, surface warships have been struggling to survive against mines, submarines, aircraft and, more recently, cruise missiles. Now China’s rapid development of a sophisticated anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) raises the threat to a new level.
The U.S. Navy, […]

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “China’s Jet Engine Future,” The Diplomat, 13 July 2011.
Following is a guest entry from Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, co-founders of China Sign Post.
China’s military jet engine capability is increasing at a rapid pace, with implications not only for China’s independent military capabilities, but also for the global defence […]

THIS POST HAS BEEN CORRECTED TO ELIMINATE LIKELY INACCURATE RANGE CLAIM BY CHINA DAILY; CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE UPDATE.
According to an article by China’s official Xinhua News Agency entitled “China’s DF-21D Missile is Still Undergoing Research” (陈炳德: 东风21D导弹还在研究中), on 11 July 2011 PLA Chief of General Staff General Chen Bingde became the first Chinese government […]

First posted 30 December 2010; updated subsequently with latest analysis and sources.
For an explanation of Chinese ASBM development and its larger implications, see the China Maritime Studies Institute Lecture of Opportunity, “Chinese Sources Discuss the ASBM Threat to the U.S. Navy,” that I presented at the Naval War College on 21 March 2011.

For detailed analysis of Admiral […]

Gabriel B. Collins and Andrew S. Erickson, “12 in ’12: Strategic Challenges Facing the U.S. and China as the 2012 Political Season Approaches,” China SignPost™ (洞察中国) 40 (11 July 2011).
China SignPost™ 洞察中国–“Clear, high-impact China analysis.”©
Executive Summary:
Challenges Washington faces that will affect relations with China
1) Adapting to a sometimes contradictory “frenemies” type relationship with China.
2) Accepting […]

Michael G. Gallagher, “More Firepower for the Navy? Convert!” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 137.7 (July 2011): 22-25.
To offset the vulnerability of its aircraft carrier force and prepare for a possible military conflict with China, the U.S. Navy should build a dedicated class of modified cruise-missile submarines based on the stealthy Virginia-class template.
The May 2010 report […]

Lt. Cdr. Matthew Harper, “Chinese Missiles and the Walmart Factor,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 137.7 (July 2011): 16-21.
Scenarios of a military conflict with a rising China are pointless if they leave out a glaring detail—the global economy.
Multiple news outlets recently carried stories about a Chinese antiship ballistic missile (ASBM) that could target U.S. aircraft carriers […]