The Chinese Nuclear Threat
China’s military buildup introduces new challenges for U.S. deterrence strategy. China’s nuclear force may expand to thousands of warheads within a few years. In 2023, CIA Director William Burns noted that China’s President Xi Jinping directed that China’s military be prepared to invade Taiwan in 2027. Chinese nuclear weapons could play a supporting role in a Taiwan contingency. Current U.S. nuclear policy is not focused on deterring a near-term conflict and is ill-prepared for the threat of theater nuclear escalation.
