Hello delegates!
Nuclear weapons are a vital issue in US-China relations, and so it is important to understand the current nuclear situation.
A recently leaked draft of the Trump Administration's Nuclear Posture Review outlines the American position on nuclear weapons. While only a draft of the official policy, the paper calls for an expansion of the nuclear weapons program, with a particular emphasis on the development of low-yield nuclear weapons. Strikingly, the paper leaves open the avenue of nuclear retaliation for major non-nuclear attacks.
Similarly, China recently released a military paper outlining their plans for their nuclear weapons program. This paper states that in response to the nuclear strategies of the US and Russia, China must strengthen its nuclear capabilities for the purposes of deterrence and retaliation. It specifically points to Russia's goal to have 90% of its arsenal consist of advanced nuclear armaments by 2021 and the US Congressional Budget Office's estimate that 1.2 trillion dollars would be spent on the modernization of the American nuclear arsenal over the next 30 years.
Here are some further links to begin your research:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-security/chinese-military-paper-urges-increase-in-nuclear-deterrence-capabilities-idUSKBN1FJ1A0
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-nuclear-posture-review-2018_us_5a4d4773e4b06d1621bce4c5
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2018/01/29/trump-nuclear-plan-requires-big-fixes-in-decaying-warhead-industrial-complex/#4dddae22a3c7
Nuclear weapons are a vital issue in US-China relations, and so it is important to understand the current nuclear situation.
A recently leaked draft of the Trump Administration's Nuclear Posture Review outlines the American position on nuclear weapons. While only a draft of the official policy, the paper calls for an expansion of the nuclear weapons program, with a particular emphasis on the development of low-yield nuclear weapons. Strikingly, the paper leaves open the avenue of nuclear retaliation for major non-nuclear attacks.
Similarly, China recently released a military paper outlining their plans for their nuclear weapons program. This paper states that in response to the nuclear strategies of the US and Russia, China must strengthen its nuclear capabilities for the purposes of deterrence and retaliation. It specifically points to Russia's goal to have 90% of its arsenal consist of advanced nuclear armaments by 2021 and the US Congressional Budget Office's estimate that 1.2 trillion dollars would be spent on the modernization of the American nuclear arsenal over the next 30 years.
Here are some further links to begin your research:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-security/chinese-military-paper-urges-increase-in-nuclear-deterrence-capabilities-idUSKBN1FJ1A0
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-nuclear-posture-review-2018_us_5a4d4773e4b06d1621bce4c5
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2018/01/29/trump-nuclear-plan-requires-big-fixes-in-decaying-warhead-industrial-complex/#4dddae22a3c7
To be truly honest, I must admit when I first entered into the position of Secretary of Defense, I had qualms with increasing my country’s nuclear weapons cache. I had little direct experience with the nuclear arsenal during my time in the Marines as those duties were generally relegated to the Navy and Air Force. As a result, I had many reservations about an air-launched nuclear cruise missile that was under development at the Pentagon and I even questioned whether the United States should even have intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos at all. However, after many months of intense deliberation and intellectual learning, I have come to one, singular conclusion: We must look reality in the eye and see the world as it is, not as we wish it to be. While I wish the United States would not have to increase its nuclear cache, due to the current circumstances, we must do so in order to protect American lives.
ReplyDeleteThe United States has been forced to increase this cache of weapons because of the danger presented towards us from North Korea and Russia, but most importantly China. China is hoping to increase its nuclear capabilities themselves in order to compete with countries like the United States. This increase of their nuclear caches poses a tremendous threat to the national security of our nation. I have stated many time before that I believe that China is the United States’ main threat to our national security. As a result of the growing tensions between the United States and China, the United States must modernize their nuclear cache and increase the amount they have.
The United States must also show the world that we are the most powerful nuclear country, a country that is not to be messed with. I am hoping to show our country's strength in a initiative that plans on deploying small nuclear weapons on two new missiles in a show of strength against the potential hostiles that wish to harm us. This show of strength will only be the first of many that will show the world that the United States is indeed great once more and should not be opposed by any country.
While I can understand the issues individuals have with the idea of increasing our nuclear cache as I once was among them, it is now clear to me that the decision to do modernize our nuclear arsenal is not an option, but a necessity.
-Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis
Works Cited
“Mattis Defends Plan to Deploy Small Nuclear Arms.” Washington Free Beacon, 6 Feb. 2018, freebeacon.com/national-security/mattis-defends-plan-deploy-small-nuclear-arms/.
Sonne, Paul. “How Mattis Changed His Mind on Nuclear Weapons.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 5 Feb. 2018, www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/how-mattis-changed-his-mind-on-nuclear-weapons/2018/02/05/2e388c64-0aa0-11e8-baf5-e629fc1cd21e_story.html.