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.
Andrew S. Erickson, “An Oxbow in the River of Time? ‘River Elegy’ and China’s Quest for Modern Greatness,” Harvard Fairbank Center Blog Post, 19 November 2025.
The film River Elegy (河殇) is a telling touchstone evoking intense introspection, from a time when China could examine itself with a candor and hope unimaginable today.
Revisiting this now-banned self-reflection […]
Rear Admiral Zhu Chuansheng, “Accelerating the Development of Marine Corps Combat Capabilities to Win in High-End Maritime Warfare,” CMSI Translation 24 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 19 November 2025).
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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
This CMSI translation provides unparalleled insights into the development and […]
“A timely, essential contribution underscoring the urgency of fortifying America’s defense posture to meet China’s rising challenge. Freymann and Halem offer a clear-eyed assessment of the strategic and industrial shortfalls that must be addressed. Their historically grounded, technologically informed analysis stresses that effective deterrence requires both operational innovation and the political will to reform our […]
Christopher H. Sharman and Andrew S. Erickson, “China’s Future World-Class Navy: Ends, Ways, Means,” in Benjamin Frohman and Jeremy Rausch, eds., The PLA’s Long March toward a World-Class Military: Progress, Ambitions, and Obstacles (Seattle, WA: National Bureau of Asian Research, 2025), 196–218.
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Andrew S. Erickson and Christopher H. Sharman, “Replacement Removed: VADM/General Wang Houbin—Naval Star Turned Rocket Force Commander’s Terminal Trajectory,” CMSI Note 17 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 20 October 2025; officially published 13 November 2025).
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this informally offered and shared EARLY-VIEW ADVANCE DRAFT COPY of the research […]
Key removals just announced by China’s Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson:
1. General He Weidong, Member, Political Bureau, CCP Central Committee & [Second] Vice Chairman, CMC
2. Admiral Miao Hua, CMC Member & former Director, CMC Political Work Department [Click here for CMSI report.]
3. General He Hongjun, former Executive Deputy Director, CMC Political Work Department
4. General Wang […]
As we wind through the Year of the Snake, China under Xi is steaming full speed ahead, particularly at sea. Navigate troubled Indo-Pacific waters by consulting the latest version of Modern Chinese Maritime Forces! This most recent iteration of the Second Edition includes sections for PLA Army (pp. 65–77) and PLA Air Force (pp. 78–80) […]
Wang Xiangxiang, “The Elusive ‘Deep-Sea Beast’: Analysis of the Performance of the Main Equipment of the U.S. Navy Virginia-Class Nuclear Attack Submarine,” CMSI Translation 23 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 30 September 2025).
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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: How does […]
Andrew S. Erickson, Review of Brian C.H. Fong, U.S.-China Rivalry: Great Power Competition in the Indo-Pacific (Edinburgh, Scotland, UK: Edinburgh University Press, November 2024), 13–21; in Il Hyun Cho, ed., “The Jervis Forum Roundtable 17-4 on Fong, US-China Rivalry,” H-Diplo Robert Jervis International Security Studies Forum Review Roundtable with Alice D. Ba, Andrew S. Erickson, Yuan-kang […]
Chang Lei, Birth of the PLA Navy, May 1950 – November 1965 (Admiralty Trilogy Group, 6 September 2025).
Chang Lei’s Birth of the PLA Navy features surface and air battles off the coast of China during the early days of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, from May of 1950 to November 1965. It includes twenty-two historical and hypothetical battles between […]
The Gun, The Knife, The Pen, The Paper, and The Blood…
These are not future John Grisham novels, but rather the essential instruments by which a PRC paramount leader consolidates and holds power:
The Gun: PLA
The Knife: domestic security services
The Pen: propaganda system
The Paper: bureaucracy
The Blood: red families/“princelings”
In this landmark article, the brilliant Jamestown Foundation team explains […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “China’s Naval Leadership: Corruption and Capabilities,” Keynote Address at Defense Innovation Days; organized by SENEDIA, The Alliance for Defense Tech, Talent, and Innovation; Newport, Rhode Island, 26 August 2025.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS.
RESEARCH ON WHICH THIS PRESENTATION IS BASED:
Andrew S. Erickson, “The China Navy Leadership Bookshelf,” China Analysis from Original […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “The China Navy Leadership Bookshelf,” China Analysis from Original Sources 以第一手资料研究中国, 8 September 2025.
Since Xi assumed power in 2012, scores of flag and general officers and defense industry leaders have been removed. This is part of a larger pattern across China’s entire Party-State-Military bureaucracy. By my running tally, Xi-era removals within China’s […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “Confirmed: ADM Yuan Huazhi Removed as the PLAN’s Political Commissar,” CMSI Note 16 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 4 September 2025).
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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Navy Watchers: As Xi Jinping presided over yesterday’s military parade in Beijing, the spectacle on Tiananmen […]
Andrew S. Erickson, Jason Wang, Pei-Jhen Wu, Marvin Bernardo, “Rigging the Game: PRC Oil Structures Encroach on Taiwan’s Pratas Island,” Jamestown China Brief (2 September 2025); 25.16 (6 September 2025): 18–29.
Research featured in:
Helen Davidson, “China Drilling for Oil and Gas inside Taiwan’s Exclusive Economic Zone,” The Guardian, 2 September 2025.
Helen Davidson, “Taiwan Accuses China of Breaching International Law […]
Ryan D. Martinson, The PLAN Corruption Paradox: Insights from the 1st Destroyer Flotilla, China Maritime Report 49 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 13 August 2025).
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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Navy Watchers: Stories of senior Chinese Navy (PLAN) leaders being purged for “corruption” appear with striking […]
Tan Benhang, “Implications of the U.S. Navy’s ‘Sea Base’ Construction for Equipment Support in Cross-Sea Landing Operations,” CMSI Translation 22 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 11 August 2025).
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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy and Marine Watchers:
China’s military seeks to become world-class […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “How Will China’s National Power Evolve Vis-à-vis the United States?” in Maria Adele Carrai, Jennifer Rudolph, and Michael Szonyi, eds., The China Questions 2: Critical Insights into U.S.-China Relations (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2025), 161–70.
The United States and China increasingly differ in their national systems, interests, and objectives. Never before have they been powerful […]
Maria Adele Carrai, Jennifer Rudolph, and Michael Szonyi, eds., The China Questions 2: Critical Insights into U.S.-China Relations (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2025).
INFORMATION ON VOLUME RELEASED IN PAPERBACK
Maria Adele Carrai, Jennifer Rudolph, and Michael Szonyi, eds., The China Questions 2: Critical Insights into U.S.-China Relations (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2025).
About the Editors
Maria Adele Carrai specializes in the history of […]
Chinese Undersea Warfare: Development, Capabilities, Trends
Maritime Gray Zone Operations: Challenges and Countermeasures in the Indo-Pacific
Oxford Bibliography: “The People’s Liberation Army (PLA)”
China’s Climate Cooperation Smokescreen: A Roadmap for Seeing Through the Trap and Countering with Competition
Large-Scale Amphibious Warfare in Chinese Military Strategy
Rebalancing U.S. Forces: Basing and Forward Presence in the Asia-Pacific
China’s Near Seas Combat Capabilities
Chinese Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) Development: Drivers, Trajectories and Strategic Implications
Asia’s Rising Energy and Resource Nationalism: Implications for the United States, China, and the Asia-Pacific Region
Chinese Aerospace Power: Evolving Maritime Roles
China’s S-Curve Trajectory: Structural Factors Will Likely Slow the Growth of China’s Economy and Comprehensive National Power
China, the United States, and 21st-Century Sea Power: Defining a Maritime Security Partnership
China Goes to Sea: Maritime Transformation in Comparative Historical Perspective
China’s Energy Strategy: The Impact on Bejing’s Maritime Policies
China’s Future Nuclear Submarine Force
Chinese Mine Warfare: A PLA Navy 'Assassin’s Mace' Capability
China’s Nuclear Force Modernization
