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IISS: Taiwan Tensions Could Ignite Asia-Pacific Nuclear Arms Race

5/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

IISS warned a U.S.–China clash over Taiwan could spark a new nuclear arms race in the Asia-Pacific.
The assessment notes regional states expanding nuclear arsenals, non-nuclear states building long-range conventional strike capabilities, and no guard-rails protecting command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) nodes.
Pentagon data say China plans 1,000 warheads by 2030, up from about 620, while Russia holds roughly 4,400 and the United States roughly 3,700.

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Story summary

IISS warned a U.S.–China clash over Taiwan could spark a new nuclear arms race in the Asia-Pacific.
The assessment notes regional states expanding nuclear arsenals, non-nuclear states building long-range conventional strike capabilities, and no guard-rails protecting command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) nodes.
Pentagon data say China plans 1,000 warheads by 2030, up from about 620, while Russia holds roughly 4,400 and the United States roughly 3,700.