Why Is China Expanding Its Nuclear Arsenal?

<p>For decades, nuclear weapons did not figure prominently in China’s military planning. However, recent satellite images suggest that the country may be looking to quintuple its nuclear arsenal. </p><p>Why is China changing strategy now?</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/david-e-sanger">David E. Sanger</a>, a White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times. </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily">Sign up here</a> to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>Is China scrapping its “minimum deterrent” strategy and joining an arms race? Or is it merely <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/26/us/politics/china-nuclear-weapons.html">looking to create a negotiating card</a>?</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p>