Missile Defense and the Strategic Relationship among the United States, Russia, and China
Tong Zhao and Dmitry Stefanovich | American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Tong Zhao and Dmitry Stefanovich | American Academy of Arts and Sciences
China has long been worried about potential U.S. efforts to use missile defense to undermine China’s nuclear deterrent capabilities.
Indeed, many American military experts and some officials recognize the role played by American missile defense in incentivizing China’s
nuclear modernization.1 China’s own investment in developing and potentially deploying various types of missile defense technologies adds to the complexity of the situation but may also open new opportunities for a two way conversation. The quickly intensifying strategic competition between the two countries significantly increases the risks of misunderstandings and inflated threat perceptions
At Hiroshima Summit, Japan to Push Against Nukes — but World Disagrees
Toluse Olorunnipa and Michelle Ye Hee Lee | The Washington Post
White House aides say Biden is likely to spend much of the G-7 focusing on immediate global issues, particularly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the threat posed by China and the challenges of global inflation and climate change. But he is also expected to note the symbolism of the summit’s location, meeting with survivors of the atomic bomb and visiting the memorial that commemorates the estimated 140,000 people who died during the bombing and its aftermath.
Crimea Is a 'Red Line' for Putin, NATO Defense Minister Says
DAVID BRENNAN | Newsweek
Losing control of occupied Crimea is a "red line" for Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Estonian defense minister has said, though urged fellow NATO nations not to balk at a Ukrainian operation towards the peninsula regardless of fears over Moscow's nuclear arsenal…Pevkur is among those urging caution over the imminent—or perhaps already underway—Ukrainian counterattack. "It is very important, we all understand that," the defense minister said. "But let's not put too much pressure on the Ukrainians with that. Yes, this is why we also trained Ukrainian soldiers in Europe, also here in Estonia. And this is why we are sending military aid to Ukraine...We need to hope that it will be as much successful as it can be."
New Pentagon Missile Defense Radar Is Delayed and Over Budget, GAO Says
Anthony Capaccio | Bloomberg
Delivery of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s new ground radar for the US system in Alaska intended to track and intercept missiles from North Korea or Iran will be delayed by more than a year, according to congressional auditors.
Pentagon Seeks Authority to Transfer Nuclear Submarines to Australia
Bryant Harris and Megan Eckstein | DefenseNews
The U.S. Department of Defense asked Congress to authorize the transfer of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia as part of the trilateral AUKUS agreement with the U.K. Three legislative proposals, submitted on May 2 and first posted online Tuesday, would greenlight the sale of two Virginia-class submarines to Australia, permit the training of Australian nationals for submarine work and allow Canberra to invest in the U.S. submarine industrial base.
Japan and China Start Using Defense Hotline
NHK World
Japan and China began operating a defense hotline between the two nations on Tuesday. The hotline is designed to prevent accidental clashes between Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the Chinese military. The governments of the two countries said Japanese Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu spoke on the line for the first time for about 20 minutes starting at 4:30 p.m. The hotline was launched on March 31. It is part of a broader communications mechanism between Tokyo and Beijing that was introduced earlier to prevent accidental clashes at sea or in the air.