May 13, 2026
US Senate warns of China’s nuclear buildupChina’s nuclear buildup before Xi-Trump summit
US senators warned about China’s expanding nuclear capabilities in Washington on Wednesday, hours before a planned summit between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.
The discussion came as lawmakers and administration officials debated the risks of future nuclear testing and the broader security balance between the two powers.
US Congressional Perspective
Senators highlighted China’s nuclear modernization as a growing strategic challenge and pressed officials for clarity on US policy. They framed the issue as part of a wider effort to preserve deterrence and prevent a new arms race.
US Administration Perspective
Administration officials were asked to define how far the US would go on nuclear testing and what posture it would take in response to China’s buildup. Their comments suggested the final decision would rest with the president.
- China has maintained a much smaller nuclear force than the United States and Russia for decades.
- The last U.S. nuclear explosive test occurred in 1992.
- Strategic stability talks can matter even when the rivals disagree on nearly everything else.
US-China Military Escalation Indo-Pacific
The United States conducted its first operational firing of the Typhon mid-range missile system from the Philippines on May 5, 2026, during joint exercises with Manila, Japan, Australia, France, Canada, and New Zealand. The Tomahawk cruise missile traveled over 600 kilometers from Leyte to strike a target in Nueva Ecija, demonstrating long-range strike capability that can reach the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and parts of mainland China. China condemned the deployment as provocative and responded with its own naval drills, while tensions escalated further when Taiwan's coast guard expelled a Chinese research vessel suspected of conducting underwater surveillance near the island.
