Nuclear weapons and a war between China and the US pose the greatest threats to the international system. Nuclear weapons could destroy entire cities and have devastating humanitarian, economic, and political impacts worldwide. A Sino-American war would also greatly disrupt the international system through massive casualties, economic instability, and political unrest due to the countries' allies being drawn into the conflict. The likelihood of these threats depends on decision-making in nuclear states and the potential for conflict over flashpoints like Taiwan, North Korea, and the South China Sea. The international community would respond according to their allied interests in order to promote stability.
My article published in Eurasia Review yesterday (March 9, 2013) has thrown some lights on how we are suffering in the world that is both leaderless and defenseless. It also gives some evidences and few suggestions that can help us to manage with.
My article published in Eurasia Review yesterday (March 9, 2013) has thrown some lights on how we are suffering in the world that is both leaderless and defenseless. It also gives some evidences and few suggestions that can help us to manage with.
“Everyday courage has few witnesses. But yours is no less noble because no drum beats for you and no crowds shout your name.”
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
“Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion.”
~ Calvin Coolidge
“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.”
~ Bob Dylan
hi guys this presentation helps you to focus on the topic.
you get every topic in this presentation.
it looks great and more attractive.
so please guys like and share with your friends
Ghassan Shahrour, The 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings at Hiroshima an...Ghassan Shahrour
The 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki by Ghasssan Shahrour, MD
Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital & Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital
Dr Marcel Junod: like the palm of a hand.
‘We (…) witnessed a sight totally unlike anything we had ever seen before. The centre of the city was a sort of white patch, flattened and smooth like the palm of a hand. Nothing remained. The slightest trace of houses seemed to have disappeared.
Weapons must not cause damage to the natural environment that is widespread, long-term and severe.
The effects of nuclear weapons are catastrophic and cannot be contained.
Disarmament efforts and treaties
Potentially equal Hiroshima X 7
No adequate medical / humanitarian response would be possible
Blast could be followed by worldwide famin
ICRC General Assembly Conf. since 1948.
At NPT and IAEA.
- Partial Test Ban Treaty in 1963,
- Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty in 1968,
- Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, 1996.
The Global Conference on the Catastrophic Humanitarian Consequences of any use of NWs in Oslo 2013, Mexico 2014 and Vienna 2014.
ICRC marks the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This anniversary is a stark reminder of the appalling human costs of nuclear weapons. It should inspire all States to reaffirm their commitment to the elimination of nuclear weapons. We know now more than ever before that the risks of nuclear weapons are too high and the dangers too real. It is time to bring the era of nuclear weapons to an end and we urge this Review Conference to take the bold steps needed to achieve this noble goal.
Thucydides Trap, North Korean missile development and the Fragmentation of St...Dr. Dan EKONGWE
It is written; it was the rise of Athens that led to the attack and declaration of war by Sparta. In this article I expose on how the North Keaeans in its relationship with the particularly the US lives by that principle. I try to show that, and like the Russian president Vladimir Putin said, North Koreans will eat grass only if by that means they will acquire a nuclear weapon. In terms of international relations I explain that the North Koreans are aware of the dangerous nature of the international scene an anarchy that characterises international relations. To them its only the acquisition of nuclear technology that will allow them to to be recognized and taken seriously to sit on the high table of high politics. The Trump - Kim relations speaks for itself
The cold War Era chapter 1 class 12 Political Science
Expiation of this chapter is too good to understand by this PPT
done under the guidance of political science lecturer Mrs. Shelza Rana
“Everyday courage has few witnesses. But yours is no less noble because no drum beats for you and no crowds shout your name.”
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
“Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion.”
~ Calvin Coolidge
“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.”
~ Bob Dylan
hi guys this presentation helps you to focus on the topic.
you get every topic in this presentation.
it looks great and more attractive.
so please guys like and share with your friends
Ghassan Shahrour, The 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings at Hiroshima an...Ghassan Shahrour
The 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki by Ghasssan Shahrour, MD
Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital & Atomic-bomb Survivors Hospital
Dr Marcel Junod: like the palm of a hand.
‘We (…) witnessed a sight totally unlike anything we had ever seen before. The centre of the city was a sort of white patch, flattened and smooth like the palm of a hand. Nothing remained. The slightest trace of houses seemed to have disappeared.
Weapons must not cause damage to the natural environment that is widespread, long-term and severe.
The effects of nuclear weapons are catastrophic and cannot be contained.
Disarmament efforts and treaties
Potentially equal Hiroshima X 7
No adequate medical / humanitarian response would be possible
Blast could be followed by worldwide famin
ICRC General Assembly Conf. since 1948.
At NPT and IAEA.
- Partial Test Ban Treaty in 1963,
- Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty in 1968,
- Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, 1996.
The Global Conference on the Catastrophic Humanitarian Consequences of any use of NWs in Oslo 2013, Mexico 2014 and Vienna 2014.
ICRC marks the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This anniversary is a stark reminder of the appalling human costs of nuclear weapons. It should inspire all States to reaffirm their commitment to the elimination of nuclear weapons. We know now more than ever before that the risks of nuclear weapons are too high and the dangers too real. It is time to bring the era of nuclear weapons to an end and we urge this Review Conference to take the bold steps needed to achieve this noble goal.
Thucydides Trap, North Korean missile development and the Fragmentation of St...Dr. Dan EKONGWE
It is written; it was the rise of Athens that led to the attack and declaration of war by Sparta. In this article I expose on how the North Keaeans in its relationship with the particularly the US lives by that principle. I try to show that, and like the Russian president Vladimir Putin said, North Koreans will eat grass only if by that means they will acquire a nuclear weapon. In terms of international relations I explain that the North Koreans are aware of the dangerous nature of the international scene an anarchy that characterises international relations. To them its only the acquisition of nuclear technology that will allow them to to be recognized and taken seriously to sit on the high table of high politics. The Trump - Kim relations speaks for itself
The cold War Era chapter 1 class 12 Political Science
Expiation of this chapter is too good to understand by this PPT
done under the guidance of political science lecturer Mrs. Shelza Rana
A natural disaster is a major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth; examples include floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geologic processes.
Volcanoes, Hawaii Hot Spot, Yellowstone Supervolcano Earth Science Lesson Pow...www.sciencepowerpoint.com
This PowerPoint is one small part of the Geology Topics unit from www.sciencepowerpoint.com. This unit consists of a five part 6000+ slide PowerPoint roadmap, 14 page bundled homework package, modified homework, detailed answer keys, 12 pages of unit notes for students who may require assistance, follow along worksheets, and many review games. The homework and lesson notes chronologically follow the PowerPoint slideshow. The answer keys and unit notes are great for support professionals. The activities and discussion questions in the slideshow are meaningful. The PowerPoint includes built-in instructions, visuals, and review questions. Also included are critical class notes (color coded red), project ideas, video links, and review games. This unit also includes four PowerPoint review games (110+ slides each with Answers), 38+ video links, lab handouts, activity sheets, rubrics, materials list, templates, guides, 6 PowerPoint review Game, and much more. Also included is a 190 slide first day of school PowerPoint presentation.
Areas of Focus within The Geology Topics Unit: -Plate Tectonics, Evidence for Plate Tectonics, Pangea, Energy Waves, Layers of the Earth, Heat Transfer, Types of Crust, Plate Boundaries, Hot Spots, Volcanoes, Positives and Negatives of Volcanoes, Types of Volcanoes, Parts of a Volcano, Magma, Types of Lava, Viscosity, Earthquakes, Faults, Folds, Seismograph, Richter Scale, Seismograph, Tsunami's, Rocks, Minerals, Crystals, Uses of Minerals, Types of Crystals, Physical Properties of Minerals, Rock Cycle, Common Igneous Rocks, Common Sedimentary Rocks, Common Metamorphic Rocks.
This unit aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards and with Common Core Standards for ELA and Literacy for Science and Technical Subjects. See preview for more information
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Thanks again and best wishes. Sincerely, Ryan Murphy M.Ed www.sciencepowerpoint@gmail.com
Summary - aims &objectives of islamic reconstruction dept by mohd asadZaid Hamid
Quaid e Azam created a department of Islamic Reconstruction in 1947 to create an Islamic state in Pakistan. He appointed the German convert Muslims Muhemmed Asad as its director general. After the death of Quaid e Azam, the whole department was burnt down by the traitors and its research lost to the nation. Now for the first time in 65 years, these rare, historical and visionary works are brought back to life, alhamdolillah. These are the lost papers of Muhemmed Asad.
These papers have an incredible historical value and set the record straight on the vision, mission, ambitions and aspirations of our founding fathers – Quaid, Allama Iqbal, Liaqat Ali Khan and Allama Asad – on the newly created Islamic state of Pakistan. These papers destroy the myth comprehensively that our founding fathers wanted to create secular state and did not wish an Islamic state. These papers are most decisive rebuttal to the liberal fascists who have been resisting the Islamic state in Pakistan and now would form the basis upon which to rebuild a glorious Islamic civilization, InshAllah!
This presentation is based on a hypothetical global war scenario written by Zaid Hamid in 2004. Incredibly, the events seem to be moving in the same direction. The original paper can be seen at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/75468573/Armageddon-2014
WMD Proliferation, Globalization, and International Security.docxambersalomon88660
WMD Proliferation, Globalization, and International Security:
Whither the Nexus and National Security?
Strategic Insights, Volume V, Issue 6 (July 2006)
by James A. Russell
Strategic Insights is a bi-monthly electronic journal produced by the Center for Contemporary
Conflict at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. The views expressed here are
those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of NPS, the Department of
Defense, or the U.S. Government.
For a PDF version of this article, click here.
Introduction
Throughout the 1990s, the United States national security establishment gradually espoused the
idea of a growing threat posed by the proliferation of a variety weapons and weapons
technologies that could cause mass casualties to combatants and noncombatants alike. Nuclear
weapons had long occupied the rhetorical space used by policy makers to describe weapons that
could kill on a mass scale, but gradually the result was that the term “weapons of mass
destruction” was reinvigorated and quickly became an accepted term in the lexicon of national
security policy. The term is believed to have surfaced in the media in the aftermath of the German
bombing of Guernica, the Basque seat of power, in April 1937. It reappeared periodically during
World War II in reference to the indiscriminate killing of civilians by aircraft.[1] Today, the term is
defined in U.S. Code Title 50 as “any weapon or device that is intended, or has the capability, to
cause death or serious bodily injury to a significant number of people through the release,
dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors; a disease organism;
radiation or radioactivity."[2] For the purposes of this analysis, the term is defined as weapons
that can inflict mass casualties on combatants and noncombatants using nuclear and radiological
devices, long range missiles, and lethal chemical- and biological agents.[3]
Arguably, the kick-off to the more recent formal shift in emphasis in the U.S. national security
bureaucracy came in September 1993 when President Clinton told the United Nations General
Assembly:
One of our most urgent priorities must be attacking the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction, whether they are nuclear, chemical or biological; and the ballistic missiles
that can rain them down on populations hundreds of miles away… If we do not stem the
proliferation of the world’s deadliest weapons, no democracy can feel secure.[4]
Following the speech, President Clinton signed Presidential Directive 18, which ordered the
Department of Defense to develop a new approach in addressing the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction. At the time of the initiative, the United States was particularly concerned with
the prospect of thousands of unsecured nuclear warheads in the former Soviet republics—the
problem of “loose nukes.”
In late 1993, Secretary of Defense Les Aspi.
Why Do States Build Nuclear Weapons? Three Models in Search of a Bomb by Scot...Syed Fakhar Ul Hassan
The article explains three (The Security Model, The Domestic Politics Model and The Norms Model) models to understand the actions and behavior of states in international political arena. The invention of nuclear weapons altered the world politics, practices, and global norms and set new ones.
Michael TyndallI believe that the most probable threat from .docxARIV4
Michael Tyndall
I believe that the most probable threat from a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) would be the use of biological agents. "A few kilos of an effectively disseminated BW agent can potentially cause tens to hundreds of thousands of casualties" (Cole, 2010, 73). Many of the biological agents available for FTOs to use require little to no experience handling the agent. If FTOs were to successfully conduct a biological attack, it could cause mass panic within the community, uncertainty, and economic disruption. I believe that it is not because of a lack of trying that a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) has not successfully carried out a biological attack within the country but the technological challenges the organizations face. The effects of a biological attack may not be immediately noticed. Local health care facilities or emergency rooms might be the first to realize there is a biological attack. A biological weapon will definitely be a force multiplier in the psychological on the targeted societies.
The pursuit of WMD by FTO and states that sponsor terrorism pose a great threat to our national security and global security. The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is a treaty that bans chemical weapons and calls for their destruction within a certain timeline. The goal of the treat is to "eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons" (OPCW 2016). The treaty also explains that states can posses a small quantity for research, medical or defensive use. FTO could easily exploit fragile or failed states and acquire the materials and resources needed to create a WMD to use in a terrorist attack.
Federal government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, the National Response Framework (NFR) and The National Incident Management System (NIMS) gives guidance for response and organization of agencies conducting the emergency management. I believe that it is going to take actual events for us to further refine our preparedness. We will never be 100 percent prepared but we need to be more prepared than we are now.
Michael
Cole, Benjamin. (2010). Changing Face of Terrorism, The: How Real is the Threat from Biological, Chemical and Nuclear Weapons? (1). London, US: I.B.Tauris, 2010. ProQuest ebrary. Web. (accessed 28 Dec 2016).
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. (2016). Chemical Weapons Convention. https://www.opcw.org/chemical-weapons-convention/. (accessed 28 Dec 2016) .
Michael Moratz
The future of WMD threats manifests themselves in the past threats. Large stockpiles of nuclear weapons remain and the list of nuclear capable states is expanding although slowly. Despite previous treaties and agreements Russian President Putin announced, “to upgrade his nuclear arsenal (Holehouse, 2015)” and to “this year put 40 new nuclear-armed intercontinental ballis ...
The Danger of Proliferation of Nuclear Weapon and Fissile Materials in the er...inventionjournals
ABSTRACT: There is a consensus among international leaders that proliferation of nuclear weapons and falling of fissile materials into the hands of terrorist groups is a real and present danger. The possible nuclear terrorism presents one of the most serious challenges to international peace and security in the 21st century. The forces of globalization increase the capability of non state actors in terms of technological knowhow, raising funds for terrorist activities, providing training, spreading propaganda etc. The paper studied the possibility of nuclear and fissile material proliferation to terrorist groups after the end of Cold War and the subsequent disintegration of former Soviet Union, the instability in Pakistan and increasing capability of terrorist groups who harboured intention to acquire nuclear weapon, what would happen if terrorist groups like Al Qaeda or ISIS acquires nuclear weapons or have dirty bombs.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the
Doomsday Clock, a graphic that appeared on the
first cover of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
as it transitioned from a six-page, black-andwhite
newsletter to a full-fledged magazine.
For its first cover, the editors sought an image
that represented a seriousness of purpose and
an urgent call for action. The Clock, and the
countdown to midnight that it implied, fit the bill
perfectly. The Doomsday Clock, as it came to be
called, has served as a globally recognized arbiter
of the planet’s health and safety ever since.
Similar to Evaluating Nuclear and Great War Power (9)
1. RUNNING HEAD: Evaluating Nuclear and Great Power War
Evaluating Nuclear and Great Power War
102773174
University of Colorado Boulder
27 October 2016
2. Evaluating Nuclear and Great Power War 1
Many threats challenge the stability of the international system such as cyber warfare,
piracy, and humanitarian intervention. However, two threats in particular stand out as possessing
the capability to wreak havoc within the international system. The use of nuclear weapons and a
Great Power war between China and the United States (U.S.) would involve the greatest
destruction within international health, economics, and political stability. Nuclear weapons have
the ability to destroy entire cities with the push of a button, while the intense networks of allies
between China and the U.S. would ensure a gigantic number of casualties from war. It is
important to identify and examine these challenges in order to understand how to avoid threats to
the international system.
Nuclear weapons are the greatest threat to the international system because of the
possibility of faulty decision-making and the devastating effects of a nuclear war. Nuclear war
would not only impact the country being attacked. There are three distinct areas in which the
international system would be harmed including medicine and disease, the economic system, and
evacuation and relocation. There would not be enough doctors to care for the people injured by
the attack leading to neglect for those facing other medical needs. A decrease in medical research
would occur due to the focus of medicine on injured patients. Eventually hospitals may run out
of medicine. Potential disease carriers could develop such as polio or other latent diseases, which
may reach beyond the confines of the United States, particularly in the case of evacuation and
relocation. Millions of people would be required to relocate, which may eventually cause social
conflicts as well as economic and social dislocation (Katz & Osdoby, 1982). Finally, the eruption
of an atomic bomb would affect the international economy by disrupting the production of goods
that could be traded internationally causing economic problems worldwide. The affected country
would be required to engage in monetary expansion in order to help those displaced by the
3. Evaluating Nuclear and Great Power War 2
bomb, therefore, increasing inflation and disrupting the exchange rate. Therefore, further
disrupting international flows of investment and capital.
It is important to examine the likelihood of an attack in order to identify the potentiality
of a nuclear attack. While there have not been any accidents since the dropping of the bombs on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, many close calls during the Cold War illustrate the danger of an
accidental nuclear attack. The well-known close call during the Cold War was The Cuban
Missile Crisis when The United States and The Soviet Union almost failed to come an agreement
over Soviet Nuclear Missiles stationed in Cuba. Another example is when the USS Beale began
dropping depth charges on the nuclear-armed B-59 Soviet submarine. The Soviet’s mistook these
depth charges as an active attack and almost used a nuclear torpedo in retaliation. Yet another
example was the accidental computer simulation of a Soviet attack on the United States at
NORAD. The computers gave off an urgent alert that the Soviets had launched a barrage of
missiles at North America, and the U.S. air defense program ordered the “doomsday plane” to
take off. Luckily, it was realized that a technician had accidentally run a training program that
simulated a Soviet Attack. Finally, On September 26, 1983 an alarm sounded signaling that the
U.S. had fired five intercontinental missiles toward Russia, which ended up being a
miscalculation by the satellites misinterpreting sunlight glinting off of clouds. It was a false
alarm, but could have started nuclear war (Close Calls, 2015). During the close calls in the Cold
War, nuclear war was avoided only by the decision making of individuals. Even though this did
not result in Armageddon, this process of learning how to keep nuclear weapons under control by
trial and error is unstable and not worth the extreme negative effects a nuclear war would impose
on the international system.
4. Evaluating Nuclear and Great Power War 3
Another component regarding the likelihood of nuclear war lies within the decision-making
system of the country. Since the 1950s, more states have gained nuclear weapons such as China,
India, Pakistan, and North Korea. The most current proliferators including Pakistan and North
Korea may lack stable decision-making processes to keep the world safe from nuclear weapons.
An example of unstable decision-making is Saddam Hussein’s decision to use his own wisdom
and not listen to advisors. He spurned professional military advice, and trusted his own intuition
more than objective intelligence reports (Sagan & Pauly). Furthermore, he discouraged advisors
from delivering intelligence that contradicted his political alertness. Hussein’s goal was not to
increase domestic security, but to actively engage in conventional aggression against Iran and
Israel.
Another example of faulty decision-making can be seen in Pakistan. Months after testing
its first nuclear weapon, they sent disguised soldiers into India occupied Kashmir, which led to a
series of nuclear threats between New Delhi and Islamabad (Sagan, 2012). All of which could
have been subject to the same human errors that occurred during the Cold War. Furthermore,
Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan established a network that sold centrifuge
technology to Iran, North Korea, and Libya. While the government denied knowledge of Khan’s
actions, he still poses a threat to the international system by providing nuclear technology to
other states with unstable decision making processes (Sagan, 2012).
Iran poses yet another threat to the security of nuclear weapons. Iran’s Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will most likely be in charge of the Iranian nuclear arsenal
since they have been covertly purchasing nuclear technology and managing Iran’s nuclear
weapons activities. This is an example of unstable decision making because they are focused on
ideological indoctrination and have ties with the most radical clerics in Iran. Furthermore, they
5. Evaluating Nuclear and Great Power War 4
run Iran’s relationship with terrorist groups in the Middle East (Sagan & Pauly). All of these
groups are willing to compromise the safety and international stability in order to pursue their
religious and political objectives. Finally, this will create disruptions throughout the international
system in the reactions of states to those armed with nuclear weapons.
The threat of nuclear weapons appears to come from state actors, however, there is a
difference in response to this threat based on which nuclear state is posing the threat. Nuclear
weapons are especially dangerous in the hands of state actors in unstable states. These unstable
states may make deadly mistakes regarding their nuclear weapons due to unstable or particularly
radicalized decision-making. In this case, states may pursue complete non-proliferation in order
to completely remove the threat of nuclear weapons through harsh sanctions such as those
imposed on Iraq after the Gulf War in order to promote behavior conducive with nuclear non-
proliferation. In the case of more stable nuclear states, treaties such as the Non-Proliferation
Treaty may be signed to display a credible commitment among nation states to eventually
eliminate nuclear weapons.
The second largest threat to the international system is a Great Power war between China
and the United States. This threat ranks as the second greatest because while it would greatly
disrupt the international system, its effects would not be as immediately devastating as a nuclear
attack. Each great power has allies that will be drawn into the conflict, which will have global
consequences. This includes the great number of deaths and casualties since each side is very
powerful and has multiple allies at their aid. An example of allied power may be China and
India. India would most likely side with US, while Russia would side with China. European
allies would see the U.S. as justified, but urge the conflict to stop in order to save the world’s
economy. In order to support the U.S., Europe may place an embargo of export to China of
6. Evaluating Nuclear and Great Power War 5
goods, technologies, and services to stop its war effort. However, this would decrease the
benefits of trade for Europe. This could also create an opening for heightened violence from
Islamist extremist and anti-Israel groups as U.S. forces are occupied in the Western Pacific, and
thus causing further instability in the Middle East. Ultimately, this could disrupt the flow of oil to
China and the U.S. (Gompert, et al., 2016).
The likelihood of a Great Power war between China and the U.S. can be examined
through the current structure of the international system. The current international system is
comprised of one super power and one fast-rising power. In this case, the United States is the
super power and China is the fast-rising power. In these cases, war does not occur when both
sides are building their arms and developing militarily. In fact, these wars tend to occur when
there is unevenness between the strength of the competing powers, which can be seen in the
relationship between China and the U.S. China is growing much more rapidly than the U.S.
economically. In fact, China has a large gross domestic product (GDP) three to five times that of
the United States. As a result, conflict has already begun to arise between the two powers.
America states that China exploits their cheap labor, saves too much and invests too much, and
purposefully undervalues their currency. All the while, China believes the United States is
jealous and singling them out (Copper).
However, minor conflicts do not constitute a full out war. Flashpoints are places where
conflict serious enough to lead to war will occur between the two countries. The top four flash
points between the United States and China are Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, the South China
Sea, and the Philippines. China states that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory that has not yet
been recovered. It is important to China in order to preserve their territory and as a strategic
interest due to increased Chinese nationalism. The United States views Taiwan as an emerging
7. Evaluating Nuclear and Great Power War 6
democratic country that they created. Losing Taiwan would undermine their credibility in East
Asia. Additionally, it is part of a chain of islands that pits the nations of East Asia against China,
which is a strategic power for the United States and its allies. In the case of Korea, China sides
with North Korea while the United States has a defense pact with South Korea. North Korea has
killed American soldiers and shot down American planes. Furthermore, North Korea severely
abuses human rights, which is a contention for the United States to act aggressively against them.
However, this would result in war with China as they protect their interests in North Korea.
Further complicating the relationship between China and the U.S. is China’s claim to the South
China Sea as part of its territory, while the United States says that it is international water. The
United States Navy must be able to patrol the waters in order to maintain their influence in the
region, but China states that it belongs to them and also wants access to many undersea resources
(Copper). Finally, in the past week, the Philippines recognized China’s rising power by publicly
declaring a separation from the U.S. While the Philippines have not taken away American access
to their military bases, they have stated they will decrease military cooperation with Washington.
While the seriousness of these statements is still being debated, this case demonstrates the
political instability arising from conflict in the South China Sea (Perlez, 2016).
If war were to break out between the United States and China in any particular flash
point, China’s trade with East Asia would be severely diminished. This would have severe
economic consequences both for China and the countries that supply or buy their good because
the economies of China and its neighbors (Japan, Korea, and Taiwan) are very interdependent.
For example, natural gas and crude oil consumed by China is largely imported. Since the threat
of a war between global powers comes from state actors the reactions of the international
community respond according to their allied interests. They are bound by agreements to take a
8. Evaluating Nuclear and Great Power War 7
specific stance in order to promote the well being of their allied members. If a country is not tied
in an agreement such as this, they may pursue a response that will benefit them economically
such as intervening to come to a consensus before trade is so disrupted that it affects the
international community as a whole.
Overall, the effects of nuclear war and a Great Power war between China and the U.S.
would be destructive to the international system due to the deaths, economic instability, and
political unrest each threat would cause. Faulty decision-making and frequent accidents involved
with the possession of nuclear weapons coupled with the fact that some unstable states have
access to nuclear weapons is proof of the dangers associated with nuclear weapons. Meanwhile,
increasing political conflict in the South China Sea with regards to the Philippines and conflict
within other flash points reveals the possibility of a Great Power War between China and the
U.S. In the end, the determination of action will be made in regards to whether the threat is
coming from a stable of unstable state actor.
9. Evaluating Nuclear and Great Power War 8
Works Cited
Close Calls With Nuclear Weapons. (2015, April). Retrieved October 26, 2016.
Copper, J. F. (n.d.). Defining the Great Powers and War. In Controversies in Globalization
(pp. 249-262).
Gompert, D., Cevallos, A., & Garafola, C. (2016). War With China: Thinking Through the
Unthinkable.
Katz, A., & Osdoby, S. (1982, April 21). The Social and Economic Effects of Nuclear War. Cato
Policy Analysis. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
Perlez, J. (2016, October 20). Rodrigo Duterte and Xi Jinping Agree to Reopen South China Sea
Talks. New York Times. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
Sagan, S. (2012, July 5). A Call For Global Nuclear Disarmament. Nature Magazine, 487.
Sagan, S., & Pauly, R. (n.d.). Nuclear Weapons. In Controversies in Globalization (pp. 161-175).