There hadn’t been much word out of last week’s US-Russia nuclear talks in Vienna, but Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters Wednesday that the two sides are working together and have made progress, though he continued to say he believes Chinese involvement is necessary to move forward.
China has been a stumbling block in the talks for months, as President Trump has insisted any new deals include limits on China, while China isn’t interested in getting involved in talks. To be fair, US and Russian nuclear arsenal size are many times that of China’s and limitations don’t make much sense in that context.
If anything gets China involved, it would be the Pentagon’s call for sea-launched nuclear arms, something China has objected to. At the same time, it’s not clear what China can offer in trade for limiting US first-strike capabilities.
The Pentagon wants to first-use weapons specifically because they think that will result in a “coercive advantage” with Russia. Russia is making similar developments, which is why the US and Russia need to make a new, broader nuclear deal so badly.
The “defensive” SDI was/is an offensive weapon. There are maniacs in the military who believe that the U.S. would survive a nuclear exchange.
There is no institution in the country that represents national interest, to ask hard questions blood and treasure of vast majority of population. Nobody to challenge authorities, to ask questions. It is amazing that Congress and press cannot be called independent— and relied upon to advance public interest.
China and Taiwan will be integrated in many ways long after the US goes broke, it’s just a matter of time and China has been around long enough to realize this. No need to hurry no need to worry the US will grow out of it and stop trying to contain people which only causes bad feelings.