China's Strategy and US Nuclear Weapons
Dr. Michael Nacht

June 27, 2017

What should be U.S. strategic declaratory and employment policies to counter China's regional expansionism and growing nuclear, cyber, and space capabilities? An examination of different elements of China's strategy indicate an approach based on opaqueness rooted in Chinese tradition that emphasizes economic and political objectives with incremental expansionism at the conventional level. The careful strengthening of China's military capabilities is intended to counter and deter US forces while seeking to avoid a Soviet-style nuclear competition with the United States. Consequently, there is a limited role for US nuclear weapons except for alliance reassurance and with respect to Chinese threats or use of force against Taiwan.

Michael Nacht is a professor of public policy, Goldman School of Public Policy Thomas and Alison Schneider Chair, Goldman School of Public Policy. He served previously as assistant secretary of defense for Global Strategic Affairs and as an assistant director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Dr. Nacht is a specialist in U.S. national security policy, science, technology and public policy, and management strategies for complex organizations. He is the author or co-author of five books and more than eighty articles and book chapters on nuclear weapons policy, regional security issues affecting Russia and China, the Middle East and East Asia, cyber and space policy, counter-terrorism and homeland security, international education, and public management.

China's Strategy and US Nuclear Weapons

What should be U.S. strategic declaratory and employment policies to counter China's regional expansionism and growing nuclear, cyber, and space capabilities? An examination of different elements of China's strategy indicate an approach based on opaqueness rooted in Chinese tradition that emphasizes economic and political objectives with incremental expansionism at the conventional level. The careful strengthening of China's military capabilities is intended to counter and deter US forces while seeking to avoid a Soviet-style nuclear competition with the United States. Consequently, there is a limited role for US nuclear weapons except for alliance reassurance and with respect to Chinese threats or use of force against Taiwan.

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