U.S. Conservatives Urge Action Amid Concerns Over Nuclear Readiness Against China

U.S. Conservatives Urge Action Amid Concerns Over Nuclear Readiness Against China

FIRST ON FOX: A coalition of prominent conservatives and lawmakers is sounding the alarm on the Trump administration, stating that the United States lacks the necessary tactical nuclear capabilities to effectively counter China in the event of a conflict in the Indo-Pacific region.

A recently obtained 13-minute video from Fox News Digital, set to be released by the Heritage Foundation, articulates concerns that the U.S. nuclear arsenal is outdated. Many weapons are nearly 40 years old, likened to a vintage Corvette from a bygone era.

Military strategists in Washington have started to envision a potential scenario in which China launches an invasion of Taiwan, prompting a U.S. defense response to support the island democracy.

Escalation Scenarios

The video presents a chilling hypothetical situation in which China may deploy a tactical nuclear weapon targeting a U.S. Air Force Base in Guam. Such an action could result in significant casualties, with estimates suggesting around 3,000 lives lost, all in a bid to gain a strategic advantage in a larger conflict.

U.S. Intelligence Reports

According to U.S. intelligence assessments, China is expected to double its nuclear arsenal, amassing over 1,000 warheads by 2030.

Concerns About U.S. Response

In this context, the video emphasizes a critical issue: if the U.S. president aims for a retaliatory strike against a similar Chinese target with tactical nuclear weapons, the resources to do so may simply be insufficient.

The Heritage Foundation’s Bob Peters, a strategic deterrence fellow, argues that the U.S. has retreated from bolstering its stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons, which historically serve as a more precise and less catastrophic option than large-scale strategic nuclear weapons.

Since the Cold War’s conclusion, Peters notes that the U.S. has substantially decreased the number of nuclear weapons globally, signing numerous arms control agreements with the Soviet Union and later Russia. Today, the U.S. arsenal is around 85 percent smaller than it was at its Cold War peak.

Historical Context of U.S. Nuclear Strategy

In 1991, the U.S. eliminated both naval and land-based tactical nuclear weapons from Korea, while retiring nuclear variants of the Tomahawk cruise missile previously stationed across the Pacific.

Senator Deb Fischer, a Republican from Nebraska and influential member of the Armed Services Committee, reflected on this trajectory in the video. She remarked that the U.S. had once believed Russia was under control following the Soviet Union’s dissolution. The focus was often more on China as a potential economic adversary.

China’s Nuclear Growth

Fast forward to today, and China’s nuclear arsenal has reportedly tripled over the past five years. By 2030, it aims to expand its stock from 500 to 1,000 warheads.

The most modern nuclear weapon in the U.S. arsenal is now over 35 years old, with many others dating back several decades. Peters highlights that these were intended for retirement and replacement in the 1980s.

He likens the current state of America’s strategic deterrence to operating a 1975 Cadillac as a primary vehicle—clinging to outdated solutions in a rapidly changing world.

Shifts in U.S. Military Focus

Representative Chip Roy from Texas attributes these challenges to a prolonged focus on conflicts in the Middle East, which, he argues, has diverted attention from the growing threats in the Indo-Pacific.

Roy emphasizes a need for a stronger deterrent posture, lamenting that years of warfare in the Middle East have taken a toll on U.S. military capabilities and global standing.

Emerging Threats from China

In addition to building a formidable nuclear arsenal, China has been enhancing its anti-ship nuclear capabilities and developing fractional orbital bombardment systems—space-based platforms capable of deploying munitions, including nuclear ones, from orbit.

Moreover, Chinese developments in long-range hypersonic missiles, which may eventually deliver nuclear payloads with little or no warning, heighten concerns about U.S. preparedness.

Strategic Recommendations

The video asserts that the current shortfall in the U.S. tactical nuclear arsenal compared to China compromises the ability to respond effectively in a conflict scenario. Tactical weapons would provide a significant counter while avoiding the catastrophic consequences associated with strategic nuclear strikes.

Currently, the U.S. engages in discussions focused on nuclear arms control while failing to develop new capabilities. It is crucial to modernize existing strategic arsenals, replacing warheads and missiles dating back to the 1980s and 1990s.

Roy suggests that the U.S. Navy requires modernization, advocating for a fleet designed based on actual needs rather than the demands of contractors.

The Global Stakes

With the world observing closely, both allies and adversaries are left to question whether the United States will accept a gradual decline in its military capabilities, allowing competing nations to coerce the nation into submissive positions.

Rebecca Heinrichs, a senior fellow at Heritage, warns that the country must showcase military capabilities to deter aggressive actions from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

The imperative is clear: the U.S. must ensure that military readiness remains a top priority, or risk emboldening potential challengers on the global stage.