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Jan 17, 2025 | 
defenseone.com | Thomas Corbett |Peter W. Singer
The race to return to the Moon and push beyond has entered a new, more intense phase. While Elon Musk and NASA have been arguing over whether to go to the Moon or Mars, China's recently published space-sciences plan declares its intent to surpass the United States and become the world's preeminent space power.
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Feb 27, 2024 | 
realcleardefense.com | Thomas Corbett |Matt Bruzzese |Peter W. Singer
China Is Building Its Own Starlink
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Feb 26, 2024 | 
defenseone.com | Thomas Corbett |Peter W. Singer |Matt Bruzzese
Get all our news and commentary in your inbox at 6 a.m. ET. email China launched a record 67 commercial rockets last year, second only to the United States’ 116—the vast majority for SpaceX’s Starlink. But Elon Musk isn’t the only one building a space-based network for communications, navigation, and sensing. A Nov. 23 launch from Xichang Satellite Launch Center carried a batch of satellites intended to lay the foundation for China’s own Starlink-like service.
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Sep 5, 2023 | 
defenseone.com | Thomas Corbett |Peter W. Singer
The U.S. Air Force has been open about its hunt for more bases and new missile defenses in the Pacific, which reflects the assumption that the region’s scarce runways would be among the first items targeted in a conflict with China. Less is heard about similar efforts by the People’s Liberation Army, which has the very same problem of how to ensure that its own aircraft have places to fly and fight from.
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Aug 10, 2023 | 
myemail.constantcontact.com | Timothy Martin |Thomas Corbett |Peter W. Singer |Eli Cohen
Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners Quotes of the Day:1. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 9, 20232. China Relies on U.S., Allies for Hundreds of Products3. China’s war planners are leaning harder on its militia4. Inside the Air Force’s massive mobility war game in the Pacific5. Overseas and under the poverty line: The system that keeps so many military spouses abroad unemployed6. Korea Is a Model for Middle East Peace7.
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Aug 9, 2023 | 
defenseone.com | Thomas Corbett |Peter W. Singer
Get all our news and commentary in your inbox at 6 a.m. ET. email A late-June exercise in Hunan Province saw members of China’s militia taking on growing responsibilities, including piloting drones, driving assault boats, and manning command-and-control vehicles. While the People’s Liberation Army has for years relied on its reserve auxiliary force for supplementary support, the recent exercises point toward a larger direct role—even as some sources allude to potential strains in the system.
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Jun 9, 2023 | 
myemail.constantcontact.com | Michael Hirsh |Thomas Corbett |Peter W. Singer |Patrick Tucker
Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners (apologies for my tardiness. A late start and there was a surprising amount to cover and comment on especially concerning SOF snd IW). Quotes of the Day:1. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 9, 20232. China-Taiwan Weekly Update, June 9, 20233. The Pentagon Is Freaking Out About a Potential War With China4. With eye on China, US and five allies condemn trade-related 'economic coercion'5.
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Apr 3, 2023 | 
defenseone.com | Thomas Corbett
In the new Sino-Russian defense relationship, China does what it wants, and there isn’t a whole lot Russia can do about it. Xi Jingping’s recent visit to Moscow—his first since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine last year—was summed up by historian Sergey Radchenko in this way: “The summit can be summarised by the Chinese saying 雷声大雨点小 (Loud thunder but few raindrops).
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Feb 16, 2023 | 
defenseone.com | Thomas Corbett |Peter W. Singer
China’s high-altitude spy balloons took Western politicians and publics by surprise, but they really shouldn’t have. Chinese strategists and industry have worked for more than a decade on 21st-century applications of the 18th-century invention—with some assistance from the West. Aerostats—the word encompasses powered airships (“blimps”) as well as unpowered balloons—have long been associated with military applications, particularly information-gathering activities.
