In an opinion piece for the Washington Times, CERL Advisory Council member David S. Jonas offers some insight into how the U.S. has arrived at a nuclear disadvantage, specifically in regards to our rivals Russia and China. Jonas, and co-author Patrick Rhoads, base their analysis on an October report from the Strategic Nuclear Posture Committee which asserts that the U.S.’ nuclear weapons capability is highly compromised and in need of immediate attention.

“With respect to China, the U.S. and other nations welcomed China into the liberal economic order by admitting it into the World Trade Organization in 2001,” said Jonas and Rhoads. “By enabling the Chinese export-focused economy, the U.S. and the West believed that China would evolve into a liberal economic state with its new wealth. But we somehow forgot that China is a totalitarian state whose economy and military support not Chinese citizens, but the Chinese Communist Party.”

David S. Jonas is a Partner at Fluet, as well as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center and George Washington University Law School. Read his bio here. 

The views expressed here are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of any organization or university.