Atomic Strait: How China's Nuclear Buildup Shapes Security Dynamics with Taiwan and the United States

Washington, February 7, 2023—Today, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a new report, "Atomic Strait: How China's Nuclear Buildup Shapes Security Dynamics with Taiwan and the United States," from author Jacob Stokes, senior fellow in the CNAS Indo-Pacific Security Program.

The report examines the intersection of China’s nuclear modernization and cross-Strait tensions, especially how they might play out during a crisis, contingency, or conflict involving China, Taiwan, and the United States.

Stokes argues that China’s rapid nuclear modernization program will play a major role in shaping security dynamics with Taiwan and the United States going forward.

"China’s expanding nuclear arsenal suggests that the force will be designed to fulfill new missions," writes Stokes. "Some part of Beijing’s buildup surely is meant to bolster its second-strike retaliatory capability in the face of what China perceives as shifts in U.S. conventional and nuclear capabilities and policies. China’s long-term goal for the expansion, however, could be more ambitious and potentially even include seeking to build an arsenal on par with Washington’s and Moscow’s."

The report concludes with several recommendations for U.S. policymakers to respond appropriately to these changing dynamics. Read the full report for these recommendations and more.

For more information or to schedule an interview with the report authors, please contact Cameron Edinburgh at cedinburgh@cnas.org