US general’s nuclear deterrence comments ‘may spur China to boost its arsenal’

Anthony Cotton, the nominee to head strategic command, told a Senate hearing he agreed nuclear arms may help deter an attack on Taiwan

Chinese analysts say it may be a sign that the US will develop more low-yield weapons to attack strategic targets, which would prompt Beijing to respond

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General Anthony Cotton made the comments during a Senate confirmation hearing. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:00pm, 17 Sep 2022Updated: 3:23pm, 17 Sep 2022

A senior US general’s comments that the country’s nuclear arsenal might help deter an attack on Taiwan may prompt China to boost its nuclear weapons programme, military analysts have said.

Air Force General Anthony Cotton, the nominee to lead the Pentagon’s Strategic Command, which is responsible for nuclear operations, told a Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday: “At the end of the day, Russia and China both understand that we have a strong, resilient nuclear force that is offering deterrence to ourselves and extended deterrence to our enemies.”

He also agreed with a suggestion by Republican Senator Josh Hawley that nuclear arms combined with conventional denial methods could work “hand in hand” as a deterrence against China.

Hawley told the military newspaper Stars and Stripes that earlier in the week, Cotton had told him in a private conversation that China might not escalate an attack on Taiwan if its forces could not enter the Taiwan Strait and Beijing was made aware of US nuclear capabilities.

Cotton also said the US needed to recalibrate its nuclear defence strategy to account for China’s fast growing power, which has for the first time put the US in a three-way nuclear competition.

“We have seen the incredible expansiveness of what they’re doing with their nuclear force … They have a bona fide triad now,” Cotton told the hearing, referring to the People’s Liberation Army’s ability to launch nuclear bombs from land, sea and aircraft.

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