2024-08-15 08:30:58
China’s rapid modernization of nuclear weapons is drawing attention to the outdated state of the U.S. nuclear arsenal and raising the question of the need to rethink Washington’s strategy against the backdrop of a lowering threshold for the use of such weapons, Asia Times reports, citing a report by the Center for a New American Security.
The changing nuclear dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region, as China modernizes its arsenals, increases the likelihood of the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons in a potential conflict over Taiwan, according to the report.
“The report emphasizes that once nuclear escalation begins, mutual tactical nuclear exchanges could occur without necessarily leading to all-out nuclear war, which is a significant departure from Cold War-era deterrence models,” AT writes.
The report found that the United States is ill-prepared for the new reality, including in terms of nuclear strategy and capabilities. The study also highlighted the strategic importance and vulnerability of U.S. allies in the region, such as Japan and Australia.
“The report also highlights the need to adapt US strategic thinking and capabilities to address China’s nuclear expansion in the Indo-Pacific theater,” the publication notes.
Earlier, US presidential candidate Donald Trump said in an interview with American entrepreneur Elon Musk that China, with the current rate of nuclear arsenal buildup, could surpass the US in this indicator in the future. The broadcast was on the businessman’s X page.
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