China's and Russia's Nuclear and Space Convergence and Divergence

Abstract: Following the release of a China–Russia joint statement in February 2022, analysts have argued that the two countries have become strategically aligned. While both share security concerns and even use similar terminology on 'active defense', the manner in which they address these concerns and operationalize these concepts is not the same—at least not yet. This talk explores China's and Russia's most recent official documents and statements on their respective nuclear and space postures, combined with their corresponding technological advances, to discuss their implications for Ukraine and Taiwan.

Bio: Dr. Lora Saalman is a Senior Researcher at SIPRI, a Member of CISAC, and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the East-West Center. Previously, she was affiliated with the East-West Institute, Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy, Tsinghua University, Observer Research Foundation, Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, and the International Atomic Energy Agency.