Peer power: Is China driving a new arms race?

For decades, it appeared that China was not investing in a massive nuclear buildup because its political leaders believed that the country had other more important priorities —especially at a time when China perceived no immediate external threat.

With President Xi Jinping at the helm, that era is gone now. The evidence of China’s nuclear “breakout” is both impressive and terrifying. Six new ballistic missile submarines, air-launched cruise missiles, an improved nuclear command and control system, delivery systems for different domains, upgraded missile defense systems and changed doctrine for the use of these weapons. And unlike the United States and Russia, China not constrained by treaties regarding its nuclear forces.

According to US Strategic Command’s (STRATCOM) top officer, Adm. Charles Richard, China is rapidly fielding a range of strategic weapons, USNI News reported.

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