ChinaTalk China's Nuclear Shadow
17 snips
May 6, 2025 
Fiona Cunningham, a Political Science professor at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses her book on China’s nuclear strategy. Michael Horowitz, also from Penn and a former Defense official, co-hosts the conversation. They dive into how China balances military force with political goals without escalating to nuclear warfare. The guests also highlight China’s evolving defense strategies, including the significance of their 'no first use' nuclear policy and the development of advanced cyber and counter-space capabilities in response to U.S. actions.
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PLA’s Crucial Political Role
- The PLA is uniquely important as the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party, not just a state military.
- Understanding its strategy and operations is crucial to anticipating US-China conflict outcomes.
Study PLA Open Sources With Caution
- Use open-source PLA materials as they communicate doctrines to themselves and signal capabilities to adversaries.
- Recognize limitations; some war plans and decision-making processes remain unknowable.
Chinese Analysts Engage Western Research
- Chinese defense analysts read and cite Western defense research, including English language sources.
- This shows they value and engage deeply with global strategic scholarship.
