Image from USS Lincoln returning from deployment, that's a lot of drones:
Gerald C Brown
@geraldcbrown.bsky.social
China, PLA, Taiwan, defense, & nukes | IAF @CFR.org | Opinions mine
Saw me on ChinaTalk but didn't want to listen me drone on to get to the song at the end? Don't worry, we've got you covered. open.spotify.com/track/7sXD2d...
Do the Pirouette
ChinaTalk Records · Do the Pirouette · Song · 2026
open.spotify.com
If true and acted upon, reciprocal site visits would be a huge step forward in providing a mutually beneficial arrangement that limits risk between the US and China by improving transparency and predictability.
Nick Kodama 🌳👻@nickkodama.bsky.social · 3d agogood, if true www.cnn.com/2026/10/06/p...
good, if true www.cnn.com/2026/10/06/p...
US and China discussing reciprocal nuclear site visits amid concerns about a new arms race | CNN Politics
The Trump administration has discussed beginning reciprocal nuclear site visits with China and plans to continue pushing for that possibility during in-person meetings in the coming months, according ...
cnn.com
Putin apologists want you to buy that: -An alleged off-the-books 1991 verbal promise outweighs a signed 1994 treaty -Democratic countries formerly occupied by Russia asked to join an anti-Russia alliance for no reason -Ukrainians don't want freedom, an American tricked them into it with cookies
Look I got the color wrong, but I was way too close here
Gerald C Brown@geraldcbrown.bsky.social · last wk.Be sure to bring out your little orange book and recite key insights from Donale Trump thought when passing the semblance of the supreme leader.
Be sure to bring out your little orange book and recite key insights from Donale Trump thought when passing the semblance of the supreme leader.
Knowing exactly the amount of time I spend examining Chinese sources, how deeply I integrate them into my work, and the sheer volume of Chinese texts I use compared to most, this remark has me cracking up. But, let's talk about some of the fun Chinese texts I've been finding interesting recently!
Totally Tanked@totallytanked.bsky.social · 2w agoMight want to try something written by a Chinese person?
Well, Emma did it. I am officially rewatching the Expanse and I assure you, it's still so. Insanely. Good.
Emma the Sewer Socialist@mayorseidel.bsky.social · 3w agoThese scenes from the third episode of the Expanse are when I realized it was gonna be my favorite sci fi show www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpNc...
Folks, Science of Military Strategy (战略学) is a great source when evaluating the PLA, incredibly useful. But, it is not the only source, it is not even the best source. When evaluating PLA thinking, you really need to look beyond only using that singular source... There's a lot out there.
Ok I am sort of proud of this one on the CASI topic
Gerald C Brown@geraldcbrown.bsky.social · 2w agoI'm glad to see the extent of outrage caused by Air University's short-sighted decision to shut down CASI. The analyst's at CASI aren't just close friends of mine, they're a series of top notch China hands doing a massive service to the USG that is rarely replicated.
Anyways, another feather in the "pivot to Asia, but West-Asia" hat. At least the content is fire leading into the war we're so stupidly walking into unprepared for open.spotify.com/track/7HjR4I...
INDO(PAY)COM
AV Boyz · INDO(PAY)COM · Song · 2026
open.spotify.com
Gerald C Brown@geraldcbrown.bsky.social · 2w agoI'm glad to see the extent of outrage caused by Air University's short-sighted decision to shut down CASI. The analyst's at CASI aren't just close friends of mine, they're a series of top notch China hands doing a massive service to the USG that is rarely replicated.
I'm glad to see the extent of outrage caused by Air University's short-sighted decision to shut down CASI. The analyst's at CASI aren't just close friends of mine, they're a series of top notch China hands doing a massive service to the USG that is rarely replicated.
Will Yale@wayale.bsky.social · 2w agoIt is extremely unfortunate and regrettable that the Department of the Air Force has decided to shutter the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI). CASI, along with its sister institutions the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI), China Landpower Studies Center (CLSC), and…
"The PLA's 'joint operations' are actually just combined arms" Cool... So, what do you think the combined arms brigades are then exactly...? And what about all that joint work they do with the Navy, Air Force and friends...? Ya know, the ones coordinated through the joint operations command center?
This week on WarTalk: @geraldcbrown.bsky.social joins the show to talk the PLA’s 2027 goals, purges, nuclear deterrence, and military doctrine vs reality! open.spotify.com/episode/79qA...
WarTalk: PLA, 2027, Nukes, and the Pivot to Asia Pirouette
ChinaTalk · Episode
open.spotify.com
Was great jumping on China Talk and getting to chat the PLA, Taiwan, bureaucracy, and a whole range of things. Give it a listen if you've got some time.
Tony Stark@tonystark.bsky.social · 3w agoThis week on WarTalk: @geraldcbrown.bsky.social joins the show to talk the PLA’s 2027 goals, purges, nuclear deterrence, and military doctrine vs reality! open.spotify.com/episode/79qA...
Lev's one of the top folks to listen to on Taiwan, very much deserved!
Lev Nachman@lnachman32.bsky.social · 3w agoI have officially been promoted with tenure to Associate Professor! I started my Ph.D. exactly 10 years ago, and am very proud to have made it this far. I share this achievement with all the mentors, teachers, and friends who helped me get here. Much love to you all 💚
Your regular reminder that China is not a stranger to the practice of imperialism, and the areas that the PRC claims it has a right to and much of its modern borders are the results of Qing imperialism.
BeijingPalmer@beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 3w agoI responded to this dumbfuck who was claiming that Qing imperialism and brutality was unspecific with an extensive and polite list of historical facts and suggested reading, and he proceeded to insult me and attempt to claim the moral high ground after I then told him to fuck off. Fucking loser.
Was having a conversation in which now, when hiring for entry level China work they're getting only a few applicants, compared to just like five-ish years ago when everyone going through IR programs was focused on China.
Excited to spend the next year at @cfr.org shining a little more light on some of the challenges we face in the Pacific. www.cfr.org/articles/cfr...
CFR Welcomes 2026–27 Class of Visiting Fellows | Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) welcomes the 2026–27 visiting fellows to the David Rockefeller Studies Program. Selected fellows have the opportunity to broaden their perspective on foreign aff...
cfr.org
Look, I don't know why this needs to be stated, but if a foreign military is preparing explicitly to fight and defeat you specifically, you are adversaries. You are not friends.
Look, here's the thing, if your stance is literally that we should end every alliance in the Pacific, you're just not a serious person in this space. You're saying peace is not important. You're saying the economy is not important. You're saying democracy doesn't matter that much.
Gerald C Brown@geraldcbrown.bsky.social · 4w agoAbsolutely incredible how unserious these people are
Kinda off Joe's main point here, but the "reading bad books" as being part of being a historian reminds me of my pet rock that the study of history is a superior toolkit for doing intelligence work well--which I say someone who primarily studied IR.
Joe Stieb@joestieb.bsky.social · 4w agowww.goodreads.com/review/show/... Part of being a historian of the American right is reading a lot of bad books. I read this one, which is a relentless series of straw men and no True Scotsman fallacies that completely ignores Donald Trump, as if you could make a case for nationalism in 2019/
there's a couple of us who have remembered the PLA exists m.facebook.com/story.php?st...
Love to see it. Honestly stuff like this would have been a total gamechanger for me growing up, glad others can benefit.
Ah yes, the continued lashing out against free trade capitalism while simultaneously decrying socialism. Anyways free trade is like, one of the few things economists generally almost all agree on being awesome. But ok.
Eliot Higgins@eliothiggins.bsky.social · last mo.Tag yourself
the whole idea of LOAC is that it applies not only but *especially* when someone else in the conflict isn't following it