Andrew Harding, Madelyn Heaston, Robert Peters
China is in the midst of a “breathtaking” nuclear breakout and has rapidly become the fastest-growing nuclear power on the planet, currently producing 100 new nuclear weapons per year.REF This nuclear breakout is a departure from China’s half-century-long policy of “minimal deterrence,” posture, wherein it maintained approximately 200 nuclear weapons and a firm “no first use” declaratory policy.REF As the United States struggles to replace its aging nuclear arsenal,REF the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is increasing production, modernization, and expansion of expanding its nuclear arsenal as part of its goal to achieve a “world-class” military by 2049.REF
If China achieves nuclear parity with the United States, what could China’s ultimate nuclear ambitions be? Building off a June 2024 Backgrounder that argued that China likely seeks nuclear advantage, rather than nuclear parity,REF this report examines three possible futures for China’s nuclear program post-2035.REF The authors refer to 2035 because it is when the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) roughly estimates that China’s operationally deployed nuclear arsenal will reach numeric parity with that of the United States.REF
The three scenarios are ones in which China (1) achieves and accepts nuclear parity with the United States, (2) achieves and accepts nuclear advantage over the United States, (3) achieves nuclear primacy over both the United States and Russia. This report analyzes the potential rationales and force structures of each scenario before proposing policy recommendations to safeguard the American homeland.
The Action-Reaction Theory
There are a wide variety of theories among academics and political theorists that paint nuclear weapons in either a very positive or negative light. One of the most common theories discussed and argued is the action-reaction theory, which deals with strategic arms races and stockpiling.
The action-reaction theory posits that actions from one state initiate reciprocal actions from those of their rivals. This theory suggests that a tit-for-tat process leads to a rapid buildup of armaments, » Read More
https://www.heritage.org/china/report/china-2035-three-scenarios-chinas-nuclear-program