Deterrence | Hope is Not a Foreign Policy

Posts Tagged ‘Deterrence’

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010 at 9:16pm

China’s Sea-Based Nuclear Deterrent in 2020

Posted by Tom Skypek in American Foreign Policy, China, Future Warfare, U.S. Nuclear Policy

As part of my nuclear fellowship with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), I authored a piece on the future of China’s sea-based nuclear deterrent. This article was recently published by in a collection of essays on nuclear issues: A Collection of Papers from the 2010 Nuclear Scholars Initiative (Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2010). The are some outstanding essays in the collection on a range of important nuclear topics.

My article examines the burgeoning nuclear capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The intent of the article is to draw attention to Chinese investment in its nuclear forces. There is no shortage of literature examining Chinese conventional military modernization efforts; but judging by recent…

No Comments Tags: China, Deterrence, Jin-class SSBN, JL-2 SLBM, Nuclear Policy, Nuclear Posture, People's Liberation Army Navy, SSBN, Type 094 Submarine, Xia-class SSBN

Sunday, March 15th, 2009 at 2:22pm

The Dying Art of Nuclear Strategy

Posted by Tom Skypek in American Foreign Policy, Nuclear Proliferation, U.S. Nuclear Policy

[caption id="attachment_723" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The U.S. should consider recalibrating its nuclear force structure by placing a greater emphasis on SLBMs."]

The U.S. should consider recalibrating its nuclear force structure by placing a greater emphasis on SSBNs.

[/caption]

Nuclear strategists are a dying breed–so too is the very art of nuclear strategy. This year the Obama administration will conduct a review of existing U.S. nuclear policy. The review will touch on a host of issues, from missile defense and nonproliferation to stockpile management and force posture.

The intellectual giants of the Cold War who helped us define nuclear strategy have either passed on or are largely retired. Legends such as Herman Kahn, Albert and Roberta Wohlstetter are…

1 Comment Tags: Albert and Roberta Wohlstetter, Center for a New American Security, Center for American Progress, Deterrence, Herman Kahn, Joseph Cirincione, NPR, Nuclear Posture Review, Nuclear Strategy