OSINT – Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is data collected from publicly available sources to be used in an intelligence context. In the intelligence community, the term “open” refers to publicly available sources. It is not related to open-source software or public intelligence. (Wikipedia)
EVEN in these days of the internet, wargamers can still benefit from official government publications. For wargamers of the Cold War, the Defense Intelligence Agency Military Power series was amongst the first, and arguable the best, publicly released unclassified intelligence on the threat.
DIA still publishes their Military Power series, but the Department of Defense is directed by Congress to also submit an annual report to Congress. The Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Concerning the People’s Republic of China 2019 was publicly released on 02 May. To accompany the release the Department also held a press conference (transcript here) to discuss the document.
As useful as the DoD document is for wargamers, I also direct your attention to a series of Reuter’s interactive Special Reports on China that wargamers may also find insightful:
- The China Challenge: Marshal Xi
- The China Challenge: Rocket Man
- The China Challenge: Ruling the Waves
- The China Challenge: Nuclear Secrets found within Special Report: China’s furtive underwater nukes test the Pentagon.
All the Reuter’s reports are done with very nice interactive graphics; lots of good information to draw upon for a modern wargame in Asia.
Feature image Defense Intelligence Agency
Rocky Mountain Navy Gamer 
Check out the China Maritime Studies Institute at the Naval War College’s website. There is some very useful info. Their Red Book is especially good.
Absolutely. One day I probably need to do a post-a-links to all the goodness available!