Op-Ed Contributors

Positive change in US nuke strategy

By Zhang Tuosheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-21 07:53

In its 2010 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), issued in April, the United States has reassessed the changes in the international nuclear security environment and said it would "seek peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons". It has given five key objectives for the coming decade. The NPR, along with several other US nuclear measures, shows major adjustments in its nuclear strategy, which can be divided into six parts.

First, the US has begun to consider nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism as the main global threat. Neither Russia, its Cold War rival, nor China, which it sees as a growing rival, tops its threat list. Instead, it sees them as challenges to maintaining strategic stability.

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Second, the US has made a world without nuclear weapons its goal. Ever since US President Barack Obama delivered a speech in Prague last year, "a world without nuclear weapons" has become the shared opinion of the US administration. As Obama said, the US would sustain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear arsenal to "maintain strategic deterrence and stability at reduced nuclear force levels".

Third, the US has vowed to take four measures simultaneously: consolidate the nuclear non-proliferation regime, cope with nuclear terrorism, expedite nuclear disarmament and strengthen nuclear arms control. The US leaders believe that only through such measures can they cope with immediate threats and major challenges.

Fourth, the US has reduced the role of nuclear weapons in its national security strategy. It will strengthen its long-standing "negative security assurance", but in a way that is different from that of the George W. Bush administration, which often placed too many conditions on practice. Besides, the US will work toward achieving "the objective of making deterrence of nuclear attack on the United States or our allies and partners the sole purpose of US nuclear weapons".

Fifth, the US is pursuing strategic balance with China and Russia to intensify dialogues and expedite nuclear disarmament. Compared with the 2001 Moscow Treaty, which is reversible and in need of review, the return to START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) will lead to greater reduction in the offensive strategic nuclear weapons of US and Russia both. On China, the US has emphasized the importance of holding more talks and increasing transparency to maintain strategic stability. Washington's aim of maintaining strategic stability shows it is concerned over Beijing's nuclear power and implies that it would grant concessions when necessary.

Sixth, consolidating regional security regimes has become crucial for maintaining strategic deterrence. The US, it appears, will pay more attention to conventional rather than nuclear weapons for deterrence, and will take measures such as developing "prompt global strike". Despite its claim that the system is not aimed at China or Russia, it could damage the global strategic balance.

Four conclusions can be drawn from this "six-point" US nuclear strategy.

First, the US goal of working toward a world without nuclear weapons is a positive sign. If the US achieves its goal the world nuclear order may cease to be a threat to humankind. The past year has seen several achievements in nuclear arms control: the United Nations Security Council summit on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament last September, the signing of the new START in April this year the success of the eighth NPT review conference in May and the UN resolution in June to impose sanctions on Iran. These are positive signs in nuclear arms control and will make the world more secure.