U.S.-China Taiwan Conflict Risks Nuclear Escalation
A strategic assessment from the International Institute for Strategic Studies warns that a conflict over Taiwan could lead to nuclear escalation as both nations target command hubs. The report highlights a lack of established guard rails and communication between the two superpowers.
The United States and China face a heightened risk of nuclear escalation in a conflict over Taiwan, a new study warns. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) released the assessment on Thursday ahead of a major defense summit. The report identifies evolving military doctrines and expanding atomic arsenals as central strategic concerns.
### A New Nuclear Arms Race in Asia The IISS report describes the world as being on the cusp of a new nuclear arms race centered in the Asia-Pacific. Regional powers are expanding atomic arsenals while non-nuclear states develop long-range conventional strike capabilities. This dual expansion challenges global strategic stability, according to the 156-page document.
