Recent news has revealed that the Pentagon has issued a warning to lawmakers on Capitol Hill that China now has more ground-based facilities capable of launching nuclear missiles than the United States. However, although China has more missile silos, many of these are not currently in use and the U.S. holds an advantage in terms of submarine and aircraft-based nuclear capabilities.
The Strategic Command’s letter has brought to light the potential for a nuclear arms race between the U.S. and China, and the implications of such a race could be far-reaching. A race to obtain more nuclear weapons could have devastating economic and political consequences, and the possibility of a catastrophic mistake is ever-present.
As the 2024 presidential election looms, the issue of nuclear arms has become a political football. While the U.S. may not currently be in a position to match the number of missile silos that China has, it is important to remember the lessons of the past and to maintain a thorough understanding of the complexities of the current situation.