Such a strategy would be based on the idea that China cares more about Taiwan’s disposition than the United States does and is thus more willing to bear pain in a brinkmanship contest. But things would not be so simple. First, such a contest would surely be perceived by Americans and others as about more than just Taiwan. If Taiwan were the only thing at stake, then China might indeed care more. But a Chinese attempt to use nuclear weapons against the United States to turn Beijing’s local defeat into victory would inevitably have wider implications. Furthermore, a China that used nuclear
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