China’s Expanding Nuclear Capabilities: A Conversation with David Logan and Phil Saunders

Authors

Bonny Lin, Center for Strategic and International Studies
David Logan, Tufts University
Phillip C. Saunders, Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs, Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University

Files

Description

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, we are joined by David Logan and Phil Saunders, who’ve recently co-authored a new report titled Discerning the Drivers of China’s Nuclear Force Development: Models, Indicators, and Data. They lay out the six models developed in the report and explain which models are the most compelling for explaining China’s behavior. Dr. Logan dives into the expansion in size, structure, and capabilities of China’s nuclear stockpile in the last 10 years but highlights the fact that there has been no official announcement on China’s reasoning for this build-up. In the context of this expansion, Dr. Saunders points out that China is showing signs that its nuclear strategy could be shifting, and he notes that the prospects of strategic arms control have become more complicated.

Document Type

Podcast

Topic(s)

Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Chinese Military, Great Power Competition, Nuclear Deterrence and Escalation, Nuclear Policy

Publication Date

9-14-2023

Publisher

CSIS

City

Washington, D.C.

Keywords

CSCMA, China

Recommended Citation

Lin, Bonny; Logan, David; and Saunders, Phillip C., "China’s Expanding Nuclear Capabilities: A Conversation with David Logan and Phil Saunders" (2023). Podcasts. 4.
https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/podcasts/4