Publications

Nuclear Weapons and Military Preparedness in the Asia-Pacific

The United States is not militarily prepared to deter conflict with China over Taiwan. Whilst American military power in the Asia-Pacific is formidable, the sheer logistical challenges of deterrence with conventional forces in a multipolar maritime theatre fundamentally undermine the United States’ preparedness to fight and defeat a People’s Republic of China (PRC) assault on Taiwan.

Alternatively, credible deterrence may be more readily achieved through the threat of low-yield nuclear weapons actively dispersed throughout the Asia-Pacific.

SLCM-N, the Virginia-Class Submarine, and AUKUS

The sea-launched cruise missile–nuclear (SLCM-N) deployed on Virginia-class attack submarines will provide the US with flexible deterrence options in austere Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific theatres. In light of the SLCM-N, there are three options to consider when allocating US Virginia-class submarines that will impact the method and effectiveness of strategic deterrence through tactical and operational means.