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, “China’s Naval Advancement under Xi: Narrowing Gaps in Human Capacity,” Marine & Océans Magazine 287 (June 2025): 2–5.
Dr. Andrew S. Erickson is Professor of Strategy (tenured full professor) in the U.S. Naval War College (NWC)’s China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI). A core founding member, he helped establish CMSI and stand it up […]
“Maritime Security in the South China Sea: U.S. and Philippine Perspectives,” Panel 3 at Harvard Asia Law Conference II, Wasserstein Hall, Harvard Law School, 2 April 2026.
Maritime Security in the South China Sea: US and Philippine Perspectives
Thurs, April 2 | 10:30-11:30am | WCC B010
This panel examines the legal and strategic dimensions of maritime security in […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “CMSI Conference: Probing the People of China’s Navy and Other Maritime Forces,” The Bridge (Naval War College Foundation) (Fall/Winter 2025): 22–26.
The Fall/Winter 2025 issue of The Bridge features letters from RDML A.B. Cruz III, USN (Ret.), Chairman of the Naval War College Foundation (NWCF); CAPT George E. Lang Jr., USN (Ret.), NWCF […]
Follow the latest developments in China’s growing nuclear-powered submarine force (pp. 20–22) and beyond with this new edition of “Modern Chinese Maritime Forces,” the most comprehensive open source PRC sea services inventory!
As we gallop through the Year of the Fire Horse (火马年), China under Xi is steaming full speed ahead, particularly at sea. Navigate troubled […]
Du Bo and Wang Chenyuan, “Uphold the Idea of a Maritime Community with a Shared Destiny and Forge a New Chapter in Maritime Military Security Cooperation,” CMSI Translation 28 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 24 March 2026).
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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy […]
Andrew S. Erickson, Statement for the Record for Hearing on “Part of Your World: U.S.-China Competition Under the Sea,” U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Washington, DC, 2 March 2026.
2 March 2026
Professor Andrew S. Erickson[1]
China Maritime Studies Institute, Naval War College
Statement for the Record for the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
Hearing on “Part of […]
Hearing on “Part of Your World: U.S.-China Competition Under the Sea“
Monday, March 2, 2026
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 430, and Webex
Unable to see this video? Click here.
Hearing Co-Chairs: Chair Randall Schriver [Opening Statement] and Vice Chair Michael Kuiken [Opening Statement]
9:15 AM – 9:20 AM: Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks
9:20 AM – 10:25 AM: Panel I: U.S. Navy’s […]
At CMSI, we don’t just write timely “promotion reports” and “obituaries” when PLA Navy Admirals have major career developments. We also try to look forward & track rising stars—such as VADM Cui Yuzhong in this Note. We aim, at our best, to be the analytical equivalent of Wayne Gretzky, “skating to where the puck is […]
Conor M. Kennedy, The Seafarer Profession in Contemporary China, China Maritime Report 51 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 24 February 2026).
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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Military Maritime Watchers: China’s ability to move forces, fuel, and matériel at scale depends not only on ships—but on whether […]
Zong He, “What is the Significance of the PLAN Type 055 Destroyer Zunyi Task Force’s Distant Deployment to Australia?” CMSI Translation 27 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 23 February 2026).
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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: Chinese Navy (PLAN) operations around Australia […]
Each semester, the Fairbank Center Collection of the H. C. Fung Library at Harvard University selects new publications for acquisition. CMSI is honored that, as part of its Winter/Spring 2026 acquisitions, the Fung Library selected the latest CMSI edited volume, “Chinese Amphibious Warfare: Prospects for a Cross-Strait Invasion,” for inclusion in its world-class collection. This […]
The Legal Struggle for China’s Maritime Power: Strategy, Sovereignty, and Enforcement, CMSI Quarterly Review 1.3 (February 2026) (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 17 February 2026).
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From CMSI Director Christopher Sharman:
China Military Maritime Watchers: How does maritime law become an instrument of power and influence?
The China […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “The China Navy Leadership: Corruption & Capabilities Bookshelf,” China Analysis from Original Sources 以第一手资料研究中国, 17 February 2026.
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 earlier tally, Xi-era […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “Tracking China’s ‘Little Blue Men’—A Comprehensive Maritime Militia Compendium,” China Analysis from Original Sources 以第一手资料研究中国, 16 February 2026.
American and Allied knowledge of the PRC’s Third Sea Force has come a long way since my outstanding former Naval War College colleague Professor Conor Kennedy and I began our focused research following his arrival in […]
Andrew S. Erickson, “Targeting Taiwan Under Xi: China’s Military Forest Flourishing Despite Toppling Trees,” Harvard Fairbank Center Blog Post, 12 February 2026.
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Explaining the PLA Paradox under Xi: Key Points
Personnel purges coexist with, and may even ultimately facilitate, PLA capability development to meet Xi’s Centennial Military Building Goal of 2027. […]
He Yin, “Sea Dragon Refits Its Armor: The Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship Ushers in a New Era,” CMSI Translation 26 (Newport, RI: Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute, 12 February 2026).
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From CMSI Director CAPT Christopher H. Sharman, USN (Ret.):
China Navy Watchers: China built its newest large amphibious warship […]
China and North Korea’s Yellow Sea activities illuminated as nowhere else!
Check out the new Open Access edition of our book!
Published in Naval War College Professor Geoffrey Till’s Routledge Cass Series on Naval Policy & History and sponsored by the Korea Institute for Maritime Strategy (KIMS), this volume offers:
1) An authoritative Preface by former Commander, U.S. Pacific […]
Over the past two decades, I have benefitted tremendously from my association with the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) History Committee. With encouragement and insights from generous mentors and colleagues there, I have shared and honed my research by presenting nine papers in IAA History Symposia at seven International Astronautical Congresses around the world.
Thus inspired […]
China’s making a big splash in the Western Hemisphere! Ryan Martinson shows how the world’s largest blue-water marine scientific research fleet operates globally, including in Latin America, undermining coastal state and American interests more broadly. Don’t miss Ryan’s unique appendix cataloguing these important but understudied ships!
Ryan D. Martinson, “China’s Blue-Water Research Fleet: Science in Service […]
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
