This special report series explores the potential escalation scenarios between the United States and China, considering their ongoing nuclear arms race and shifts in security strategies. In light of the intensifying strategic rivalry, the researchers at Harvard Belfer Center, Peking University, and Grandview Institution analyze how horizontal proliferation, the Taiwan problem, DPRK nuclear crisis, and nuclear terrorism could pave way for a full-scale nuclear crisis between U.S. and China. The authors offer policy recommendations for both countries to identify areas and means of cooperation.

Francesca Giovannini, the Executive Director of the Project on Managing the Atom at Harvard`s Belfer Center, underscores that the two rival states should leverage multilateral frameworks such as the Five Nuclear Weapon-States (P5) to foster meaningful dialogues and collaboration.

Matthew Bunn, the James R. Schlesinger Professor of the Practice of Energy, National Security, and Foreign Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, emphasizes that carefully calibrated actions reassuring DPRK are essential to effectively deter without triggering provocation.

Jia Qingguo, a Professor at Peking University, explains that “strategic competition” between China and the United States has been unilaterally imposed by the latter and urges the U.S. to respect China’s “territorial sovereignty” over Taiwan and stop its “containment policy” against China.

Zhang Tuosheng, a Senior Research Fellow at the Grandview Institution, argues that bilateral cooperation aimed at safeguarding the global nonproliferation regime aligns with the national interests of both China and the United States.

Ouyang Wei, the Vice-Director of Academic Committee at the Grandview Institution, suggests potential areas of multilateral cooperation toward peace on the Peninsula include nuclear safety, security, humanitarian issues, and environmental concerns related to nuclear weapons.

[Read Francesca Giovannini]

[Read Matthew Bunn]

[Read Jia Qingguo]

[Read Zhang Tuosheng]

[Read Ouyang Wei]

Experts from South Korea, U.S., and Japan offer critical analyses of the ROK-U.S.-Japan trilateral summit at Camp David in relation to recent developments such as the Russia-DPRK summit.

Eunjung Lim, a Professor of International Studies at Kongju National University, highlights the domestic challenges that the three leaders will face and urges them to garner public support within their respective countries to build on the current momentum of trilateral cooperation.

Scott Snyder, a Senior Fellow for Korea Studies at CFR, points out that the inclusion of the “China factor” as a shared security concern has established a new milestone for a strengthened U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation.

Kei Koga, a Professor of Public Policy and Global Affairs at Nanyang Technology University, analyzes that deterring North Korea and shaping a rules-based regional order are the two main objectives of Japan-U.S.-ROK cooperation

[Read Commentary: South Korean Perspective]

[Read Commentary: U.S. Perspective]

[Read Commentary: Japanese Perspective]

[Watch Ep. 6] [Watch Ep. 7] [Watch Ep. 8] [Watch Ep. 9] [Watch Ep. 10] [Watch Ep. 11] [Watch Ep. 12]