Skip to main content
USNI Logo USNI Logo USNI Logo USNI 150th Anniversary
Donate
  • Cart
  • Join or Log In
  • Search

Main navigation

  • About Us
  • Membership
  • Books & Press
  • USNI News
  • Proceedings
  • Naval History
  • Archives
  • Events
  • Donate
USNI Logo USNI Logo USNI Logo USNI 150th Anniversary
Donate
  • Cart
  • Join or Log In
  • Search

Main navigation (Sticky)

  • About Us
  • Membership
  • Books & Press
  • USNI News
  • Proceedings
  • Naval History
  • Archives
  • Events
  • Donate

Sub Menu

  • Essay Contests
    • About Essay Contests
    • CNO Naval History - Midshipmen and Cadets
    • CNO Naval History - Professional Historian
    • CNO Naval History - Rising Historian
    • Coast Guard
    • Enlisted Prize
    • NPS Foundation
    • Naval Mine Warfare
  • Current Issue
  • The Proceedings Podcast
  • U.S. Naval Institute Blog
  • American Sea Power Project
  • Contact Proceedings
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Media Inquiries
  • All Issues
Ships

Sub Menu

  • Essay Contests
    • About Essay Contests
    • CNO Naval History - Midshipmen and Cadets
    • CNO Naval History - Professional Historian
    • CNO Naval History - Rising Historian
    • Coast Guard
    • Enlisted Prize
    • NPS Foundation
    • Naval Mine Warfare
  • Current Issue
  • The Proceedings Podcast
  • U.S. Naval Institute Blog
  • American Sea Power Project
  • Contact Proceedings
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Media Inquiries
  • All Issues

China, IUU Fishing, the Navy Reserve, and more China

By Bill Hamblet
February 2023
Proceedings
Vol. 149/2/1,440
Editor's Page
View Issue
Comments

Speaking about the Pentagon, former Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russ Smith (then a first-class petty officer) once told me, “Sir, you couldn’t swing a dead cat in this place without hitting an O-6.” At the time, in 2000, China was barely on the Pentagon’s radar. As we put together this issue, I was reminded of that expression, but with a twist: You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting China. Nearly every article in this issue addresses some aspect of how to deal with the threat China and its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) pose to peace and security in Asia.

To begin, Scott Savitz’s “Defend Taiwan with Naval Mines” describes the vital and cost-effective role of naval mines in a porcupine defense. Marine Lieutenant Colonel Brian Kerg’s “Victory Through Grand Ideals” is speculative fiction: In 2029, a PLA Navy officer reflects on how the U.S. Navy failed to prevent the fall of Taiwan. Cut from the same cloth as Captain Dale Rielage’s “How We Lost the Great Pacific War” (May 2018), it should be required reading, especially before officer selection boards.

The Maritime COIN Project continues this month with “The Cod Wars and Lessons for Maritime Counterinsurgency” by Kevin Bilms. In a series of skirmishes from the 1950s to the 1970s, Iceland played “David” to Britain’s “Goliath” in a battle for fishing rights, yielding lessons for how smaller states can push back against China’s illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing today.

Close on the heels of the Cod Wars comes “Fishing for Trouble: Chinese IUU Fishing and the Risk of Escalation” from Coast Guard Commander Jennifer Runion. Commander Runion addresses China’s massive fishing fleet and its predatory harvesting of fish stocks around the world, particularly in other nations’ exclusive economic zones.

The Chief of the Navy Reserve, Vice Admiral John Mustin, sat down with me this past fall to talk about how “Today’s Navy Reserve Is Focused On High-End Readiness.” “. . . everything in the fighting instructions is geared toward ensuring we can deliver 58,000 ready sailors if our nation goes to war [with China].”

For the celebration of our 150th year this month, Denis Clift found Proceedings highlights on “Commemorating 150 Years of Proceedings: Training and Education,” starting with Stephen B. Luce’s “Manning Our Navy and Mercantile Marine” in the very first issue (October 1874). Luce’s idea caught on, leading to the establishment of several state maritime academies and the eventual founding of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. Proceedings has had a legacy of impact ever since.

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 General Prize Essay Contest, all of which address China. Mr. Mike Sweeney took first prize with an article on submarine warfare in the western Pacific. Navy Lieutenant Commander Aaron Marchant took second prize for an essay on how Navy strategy and force structure must be able to respond to U.S. national strategy more nimbly. And Captain Sam Tangredi, U.S. Navy (Retired), won third prize for “Fighting When the Network Dies” in a war with China. This contest is generously sponsored by Barbara and Andy Taylor.

Next month’s issue is the annual Naval Review, featuring highlights of 2022 across the Sea Services and merchant marine, plus the winners of the General Prize Essay Contest, an American Sea Power Project article, and the flag and general officer and senior enlisted lists for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

Bill Hamblet Executive Page Photo

Bill Hamblet

Captain Hamblet is the Executive Vice President for Periodicals and Membership at the U.S. Naval Institute and Editor-in-Chief of Proceedings magazine. He is a 1987 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who served 29 years on active duty as a naval intelligence officer. He joined the staff of the Naval Institute in 2016.

Bill served as the intelligence officer with an FA-18 squadron, a Navy SEAL Team, a carrier air wing, and a carrier strike group. His shore tours included the Office of Naval Intelligence, the Joint Staff (J-2) in the Pentagon from 1999–2002, naval attache to Russia from 2004-2006, head of the China Division at the Joint Intelligence Operations Center in the Pacific, and deputy division chief for Middle East strategy at the National Counterterrorism Center from 2013–2016. Bill was in the Pentagon on 9/11/2001 and helped lead the initial intelligence response team in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks. 

Bill started writing for Proceedings as a lieutenant. He served on the Naval Institute Board of Control and Editorial Board from 1993–1997 and continued to write throughout his career. 

More Stories From This Author View Biography

Related Articles

ships
P Editor's Page

The Start of 2023—and our 150th Anniversary

January 2023
Welcome to 2023—the sesquicentennial year of the U.S. Naval Institute!
Flight Deck
P Editor's Page

What Lessons Can We Take from 2022?

By Bill Hamblet
December 2022
Next year is the Naval Institute’s 150th anniversary. Each issue in 2023 will include a bonus eight-page heritage section. You will not want to miss it!
Marine
P Editor's Page

Focus on the Marine Corps

By Bill Hamblet
November 2022
The winners of the Naval Institute’s annual Marine Corps Essay Contest appear in this issue.

Quicklinks

Footer menu

  • About the Naval Institute
  • Books & Press
  • Naval History Magazine
  • USNI News
  • Proceedings
  • Oral Histories
  • Events
  • Naval Institute Foundation
  • Photos & Historical Prints
  • Advertise With Us
  • Naval Institute Archives

Receive the Newsletter

Sign up to get updates about new releases and event invitations.

Sign Up Now
Example NewsletterPrivacy Policy
USNI Logo White
Copyright © 2023 U.S. Naval Institute Privacy PolicyTerms of UseContact UsAdvertise With UsFAQContent LicenseMedia Inquiries
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
Powered by Unleashed Technologies
×

You've read 1 out of 5 free articles of Proceedings this month.

Non-members can read five free Proceedings articles per month. Join now and never hit a limit.