Slide 4
Slide 4 text
Technical level drivers
• New technological threats to China’s nuclear deterrent
• Missile defense, CPGS, advanced sensors, cyber, etc.
• Missile defense:
• Worst-case scenario thinking; even a small U.S. homeland missile defense system could be
threatening
• Demise of the INF treaty
• Limitation of technical-level factors
• Lack of abrupt change of U.S. capability or policy
• Silos not ideal for addressing missile defense concern (primary Chinese technical
concern)
• Chinese officials cited other reasons (safety and security)
• Chinese experts not aware of nuclear buildup and do not understand the rationale