China Maritime Studies Institute – Collecting and reporting maritime intelligence is a core mission of China’s maritime militia. Militia forces help fill in “blind spots” (补盲) for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and enhance its situational awareness. They are widely dispersed in the waters of greatest strategic and operational importance to Beijing, available in large numbers, extremely familiar with the operating environment, and, the PLA believes, less provocative than other military instruments.

China Maritime Studies Institute – “Damage control” (sunhai kongzhi, or just sunguan) refers to measures and actions taken by a warship for the prevention, control, and elimination of damage in order to maintain or recover its vitality (shengmingli). If a warship suffers an accident, this could result in major casualties among the crew and cause damage to the ship’s equipment; it might also impact the ship’s vitality. The crew’s normal level of damage control training determines the success or failure of damage control. In order to fully leverage the active role of crew members in damage control and fully leverage the effectiveness of damage control, a scientific and rational damage control plan must be prepared. The damage control plan resolves questions related to the deployment and responsibilities of personnel during the damage control process, according to certain principals and requirements.

China Daily – The involvement of aircraft carrier groups in military deterrence operations around Taiwan can completely cut off the escape routes for “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and the channels for external forces attempting to aid them, a scholar from the People’s Liberation Army said on Wednesday.

China Maritime Studies Institute – Nearly 80 years have passed since the end of World War Two, and during this time the U.S. Navy has always ranked as the number one navy in the world, mainly thanks to support from America’s enormous national power. But for the past ten years or so, with the great decline of America’s economy, the U.S. Navy has had to face more and more problems. For example, the service lives of ships have grown longer and longer. There has been a serious lack of repairs and maintenance work. The speed of shipbuilding has noticeably slowed. And [the U.S. Navy’s] newest class of aircraft carrier was not operational for five years after it was launched. These problems indicate that the U.S. Navy is in a state of exhaustion and will find it difficult to handle all manner of potential confrontations and war in the 21st century.

USNI News – The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Shandong made its first deployment to the Western Pacific for 2025 and was a major unit in Tuesday’s military drill targeted at intimidating Taiwan Tuesday, according to Beijing officials.

Center for Maritime Strategy – China’s naval modernization is no accident—it is the result of a deliberate, Mahanian strategy that converts economic might into maritime dominance. Beijing’s methodical approach to securing trade routes, building a modern fleet, and extending its strategic reach stands in stark contrast to America’s fragmented and reactive posture. The stakes are clear: if the United States fails to reclaim its focus on sea power, it risks ceding its historic role as the guardian of the global maritime order. In the new era of great-power competition, the command of the seas is not merely a military objective; it is the foundation of national power and global stability. The United States must remember that, as Mahan taught, great nations must not only float with the tide of history—they must command the waves.

Global Times – In response to four questions raised by journalists on the recent exercises by Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warships in international waters near Australia and New Zealand, including the two countries’ claims that China did not notify them in time, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson on Thursday reiterated that the PLA Navy flotilla’s activities completely conform to international law. He responded by asking if Australia would send notifications in advance when it conducts military operations near China.

War on the Rocks – For much of the last quarter of a century, the Sino-U.S. rivalry was largely confined to East Asia. Recently, however, there is an increasing amount of competition between Washington and Beijing in the South Pacific. However, I find that America and China are playing different games. China’s game is centered more on elite capture, the establishment of diplomatic relations, and various infrastructure projects. The United States has been focused on the development of human capital and working with these small island nations through Australia and New Zealand.

CSIS – China has emerged as the undisputed leader of the global shipbuilding industry. Over 300 shipyards dot China’s seaboard, churning out more than half of the world’s commercial vessels each year. These shipyards build the merchant ships that power global trade, but many are also charged with building China’s rapidly expanding navy.  

Foreign companies have poured billions of dollars of revenue and transferred key technologies into these dual-use shipyards, accelerating China’s naval modernization. In underwriting the growth of China’s military and economic power, they risk marginalizing U.S. and allied competitiveness in a key industry and undermining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. 

China Maritime Studies Institute – Considering these landing barges in the context of other developments related to amphibious operations suggests the PLA may have significantly advanced its timetable to have sufficient capabilities to conduct a large-scale cross-strait operation against Taiwan in accordance with Xi Jinping’s 2027 centennial military building goal.

China Maritime Studies Institute – Endeavoring to advance into the deep blue, in each thrilling and important mission, the Nanchang’s Party Committee team is always ensuring that “The ship is maneuvered by us, and we listen to the guidance of the Party,” leading the officers and sailors as they repeatedly overcome risks and challenges faced. The leaders of the Nanchang’s Party Committee told reporters, “only a combat formation that is loyal to the Party while being tough and powerful can route all enemies and prevail in all engagements.”

The War Zone – New imagery has appeared of one of China’s new ‘invasion barges,’ which involves a temporary pier that can be connected to other vessels via a barge, or series of barges, with jack-up supports for more stability. The development of jack-up barges is widely seen as part of preparations for a possible invasion of Taiwan by the People’s Republic of China. At the same time, they also reflect the growing use of ostensibly non-military maritime assets to support amphibious operations by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy 

China Maritime Studies Institute – Chinese activities around Taiwan in the first two months of 2025 indicate that the PLA is strengthening realistic combat training around the island. This trend aligns closely with the PLA’s emphasis in recent years on using peacetime interactions with foreign forces to achieve training outcomes, a practice it calls “using the enemy to train the troops.”

War on the Rocks – China is systematically building a legal framework for a potential invasion of Taiwan. How can Taiwan’s friends, partners, and allies push back?

Naval News – Since at least 11 February, Australia and New Zealand have been tracking a group of People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships, referred to as Task Force 107 by the Australian Department of Defence, near Australia. Using a variety of sources from Australia and New Zealand, Naval News has attempted to piece together a timeline of their circumnavigation of Australia.

National Interest – Mounting a standing presence in America’s backyard could pay handsome returns on a modest Chinese investment.

Naval News – In February a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) task group – comprising the Type 055 cruiser Zunyi, Type 054A frigate Hengyang and Type 903 replenishment ship Weishanhu – sailed deep into the Tasman Sea, the body of water separating Australia and New Zealand. As the warships fired live rounds and caused commercial jetliners to divert, alarm rippled through the corridors of power in Australia and New Zealand.

USNI News – China carried out a “joint combat readiness patrol” drill on Wednesday in an area 40 nautical miles off Taiwan that included live fire drills, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, which condemned the drills and dispatched military forces to monitor the drills.

USNI News – China’s escalating military demonstrations of force toward Taiwan are “not exercises; they are rehearsals” for forced reunification with the mainland, the United States’ top military commander in the Indo-Pacific warned last week.

BBC – Planes flying between Australia and New Zealand have been diverted as China conducts a closely-scrutinised military exercise in nearby waters that may involve live fire.

China Maritime Studies Institute – This month a PRC government-owned defense magazine published a special report on one of the U.S. Navy’s newer missiles, calling it a “huge threat” and predicting it will “massively change” the future of naval warfare. The missile? The AIM-174B, an air launched variant of the Navy’s Standard Missile 6 (SM-6). What is it about this weapon that warranted a special report by PRC experts?

China Maritime Studies Institute – The PRC’s hospital ship ecosystem comprises at least 17 vessels. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operates 13 ships, while the state ship building sector has developed (or is developing) at least four civilian hospital ships for domestic and foreign clients.

PLAN hospital ships serve two main missions: (1) Provide medical support to PLA personnel, especially those stationed around the mainland or on Chinese-occupied islands in the South China Sea. (2) Support maritime global health engagement, chiefly through missions conducted by the Peace Ark hospital ship.

Almost a third (21) of the Peace Ark’s 71 port visits since 2010 have been in Melanesia and East Africa. A further fifth (12) of all visits have been to ports in the northeast Indian Ocean and West Africa. The launch of the Silk Road Ark in 2023 may increase the PRC’s maritime global health engagement capacity in the coming years.

In the event of a conflict, some PLAN hospital ships would not be in compliance with international conventions on the proper identification and uses of these vessels. They lack the required markings, potentially possess armaments, or are not exclusively used as hospital ships. This could complicate the decision making of China’s opponents, especially during wartime.

China’s private sector construction of hospital ships could potentially provide the PRC with the skills and knowhow to rapidly expand the PLAN’s hospital ship fleet during a conflict.

U.S. Navy planners should consider how the PLAN may use its hospital ships in a conflict and how these vessels may link with other humanitarian activities seen in these settings, such as maritime humanitarian corridors, exchange of prisoners, or civilian humanitarian capabilities.

China Maritime Studies Institute – Although corruption runs deep in the PLA Navy (PLAN) and across China’s armed forces, disciplinary-related removals appear not to have a major impact on naval capabilities or operations.

RUSI – A Chinese simulation admitting to a PLAN destroyer’s defeat by US missiles hints at advanced electronic warfare capabilities while raising questions about PLA transparency and messaging.

China Maritime Studies Institute – In 1949, the People’s Navy set sail from Baimamiao in Jiangsu province. Throughout its journey, the People’s Navy has produced numerous heroes, and an increasing number of talented personnel of all types have accelerated their growth on the deep blue waterways. Among them, Navy surface ship captains have become a shining group. How can young aspirants with dreams become captains?