China Aerospace Studies Institute

Recently, a journalist investigating anti-CCP slogans painted on the sidewalk outside the Chinese Consulate in Manchester was harassed by four consulate staff. The journalist, working in a public space, was approached by the group, who demanded he show his ID “to let them check” and claimed he needed “permission” from the consul general to film. The confrontation escalated as the staff repeatedly blocked the journalist’s camera and questioned why he was filming. As the journalist backed away, the group surrounded him, obstructing his movement and continuing to harass him. One diplomat menacingly told him, “We got your name; we got your address…” To justify his aggressive behaviour, the Chinese diplomat referenced the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, possibly implying their immunity could shield them from consequences—a troubling claim given the violent actions of consulate staff during a 2022 incident when a peaceful protester was dragged onto consulate grounds and assaulted. For most in Britain, political disagreements are handled with civility and respect. Yet, these actions reflect a disregard for such norms. These consulate staff appear to treat foreign journalists with the same oppressive tactics used against domestic critics. This makes one wonder what is the real intention behind having a new super embassy in London. Once known for subtlety and strategic engagement, Chinese diplomats under Xi Jinping's regime have increasingly resorted to confrontational and authoritarian methods, tarnishing the image of China on the global stage. For Chinese people living abroad, this behavior is not only deeply embarrassing but also harmful, as it reinforces negative stereotypes and fosters mistrust. Last year, the PRC Embassy condemned me in the Financial Times for stating that British Chinese students should not live in fear. Now, it has escalated to British journalists facing threats on UK soil. The question remains: When will the UK government take decisive action against this totalitarian regime? How much longer will such behavior be tolerated, and at what cost to Britain’s values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law?

Cleared hot from 19FortyFive! My service-focused take on the United States Department of Defense’s new #China #Military Power Report: — China’s armed forces are massive, well-funded & modernizing rapidly. — The PLA is the world’s largest military force, with 2.035 million active, 510,000 reserve & 500,000 paramilitary personnel. — It is funded by the world’s second largest defense budget, which the Pentagon estimates at $330-450 billion in actuality & further supported by the world’s 4th greatest arms sales. — Two things are true at once: China’s military remains riddled with corruption, but is nevertheless engaged under Xi in the most dramatic military buildup since World War II. — If Xi and his Party Army were as discombobulated as some preoccupied with the latest PLA “palace intrigue” imagine, there’s no way they could be building, deploying, exercising & preparing the way they clearly are. — The report documents numerous elements of that tremendous progress, allowing readers to see for themselves the lush capabilities rainforest flourishing feverishly despite widespread putrefaction & some rotten corruption trees. U.S. Naval War College Naval War College Foundation Christopher Sharman Scott Swift Thomas Henderschedt Dale Rielage Sarah Kirchberger

The Chinese Communist Party’s massive active-duty army—the largest in the world—understates the manpower available to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) during a future protracted war. Find out more in "China’s Next Step in Modernizing the People’s Liberation Army: A New Reserve Service System" by Joshua M. Arostegui. https://lnkd.in/e5UFxi_9

New! U.S. Naval War College #China #Maritime Studies Institute Translation #11: “Mid-Life Overhaul & Upgrade of the Type 052C Guided Missile Destroyer” From #CMSI Director CAPT Christopher Sharman, US Navy (Ret.): Numerically, the PRC has the largest #navy in the world with a battle force of >370 ships & submarines, including >140 major surface combatants. Many of these PLAN ships are approaching the time for their mid-life overhaul – no small task for such a large fleet. How the #PRC handles the overhaul of the Type 052C/LUYANG II-class Destroyer is a great case to study. The 1st & 2nd units of this class ship were launched in 2003 & placed into service in 2005. The service life of a modern PLAN warship is ~35 years (according to the author). This suggests it’s time for the mid-life overhaul of the first batch of the Type 052C Destroyers – & other warships will soon follow. The commissioning of the Type 052C has special historical significance. Prior to its commissioning, many PRC authors viewed the PLAN as still being backwards. Its ships lacked effective air defense and anti-#submarine warfare capabilities. The Type 052C, however, was fitted with an active phased array #radar, reduced radar cross-section design, and VLS SAMs – all historic leaps for the PLAN. The Type 052C marked #China’s entry into the world’s mainstream ranks in terms of domestically produced combat ships. What upgrades will the PLAN focus on for the Type 052C? This CMSI translation pulled from the pages of Shipborne Weapons provides some unique insights. Here are some nuggets: — The article addresses previous data processing & signal data issues with the Type 346 phased array radar & previous overheating issues. — The article details differences between the 052C & 052D as well as upgrades to the variants. — For destroyers 5,000 tons or above built after 2000, the PLAN has scheduled their service life to be 30 to 35 years. — The PLAN usually carries out modernization work simultaneously with the ship’s overhaul. The article discusses challenges with upgrading the 052C. — The article details the challenges of the pace of China’s #ship production & the expense associated with maintaining this large fleet. What the PLAN does with the Type 052C may be a harbinger of how it approaches its midlife maintenance & overhaul of its more modern fleet. The fleet’s rapid growth will present challenges for the PLAN – this article provides insights into how the PLAN will approach these challenges. This 24-page translation by CMSI’s own Professor Tiffany Tat is a goldmine of information about systems and engineering challenges the PLAN is considering as it looks to begin its mid-life overhaul of its modern fleet. Our thanks to Professor Tat as well as Professor Ryan Martinson & Dan Caldwell for their meticulous review of this CMSI translation. Naval War College Foundation Scott Swift Thomas Henderschedt Dale Rielage Chris Carlson Sarah Kirchberger Sam LaGrone

What’d You Miss? We review 2024’s big airpower stories from the US and around the world with Dr. Brendan Mulvaney, Director of the China Aerospace Studies Institute at National Defense University, and Aviation Week Network defense editor Steve Trimble. Plus the week’s top airpower headlines. All powered by GE Aerospace!   https://lnkd.in/dUQMtAC7

Read about The Path to #China’s Intelligentized Warfare by China Aerospace Studies Institute's Joshua Baughman at https://lnkd.in/e5YjQ9XJ

“One Book, Three Questions.” Honored to have CMSI’s new book “Chinese Amphibous Warfare” featured by Phelim Kine in POLITICO’s #China Watcher! U.S. Naval War College Christopher Sharman Naval War College Foundation Scott Swift Thomas Henderschedt Dale Rielage Navy League of the United States Admiral James G. Foggo (ret.) MSC U.S. Naval Institute Sam LaGrone

I am pleased to introduce the NIDS publication of “China Security Report 2025 - The Rising Global South and China”. The report discusses not only China's influence on the Global South, but also the position of the Middle East and Africa. Japanese, English, and Chinese versions are all available online as well! https://lnkd.in/grFy8Y53

Today, the Bureau of Industry and Security-U.S. Department of Commerce is announcing new measures designed to impair the PRC’s ability to indigenize the production of advanced technologies that pose a risk to our national security. These actions by BIS serve two primary objectives: 1) Slowing the PRC’s development of advanced AI that has the potential to change the future of warfare; and 2) Impairing the PRC’s development of an indigenous semiconductor ecosystem – an ecosystem built at the expense of U.S. and allied national security. https://lnkd.in/efwWJQ8m