Robert P. Kadlec, the U.S. nominee for Deputy Minister for nuclear and biochemical defense, warned that "the pace of China's nuclear buildup has exceeded expectations." As simultaneous nuclear threats from China, Russia and North Korea intensify, some say the United States needs a fundamental revision of its nuclear deterrence strategy.
Kadlec appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) for his confirmation hearing on the 4th. In policy answers submitted in advance, he said, "China is emerging as a major nuclear power along with a massive conventional force buildup," adding, "the pace has exceeded the level the United States anticipated." According to Kadlec, China's nuclear armament is the core of its strategy for hegemony in the Western Pacific. He added, "China's opaque and rapid nuclear buildup requires different thinking from the United States." He meant that new deterrence measures are urgently needed to protect U.S. core interests in the Indo-Pacific. He said, "The Ministry of National Defense must maintain a posture so that U.S. nuclear forces deter the spread of nuclear conflict with China," and "provide the president with a credible range of response options."
The threat is not only from China. Kadlec noted that "China, Russia and North Korea are simultaneously modernizing warheads, delivery systems and command-and-control systems." He assessed that this is becoming "an increasingly serious threat" to the United States and its allies. He prefaced that "America's nuclear deterrent remains highly credible." Even so, he called for "credible nuclear response options for potential clashes below the strategic level (such as intercontinental ballistic missiles) in regional theaters." China and Russia are deploying high-performance tactical nukes aimed at U.S. bases in Europe and Asia. Kadlec assessed that "in this area, U.S. capabilities have weakened since the end of the Cold War."
The post Kadlec has been nominated to fill was created by the U.S. Congress. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairperson Roger Wicker said in opening remarks at the hearing that "this position was created to align the Ministry of National Defense's fragmented nuclear management structure," explaining the background. Chairperson Wicker sharply criticized that "while China and Russia are rapidly expanding their nuclear weapons, America's modernization programs are behind schedule." He pressed that Kadlec must complete reforms at the department, saying, "The president is also aware of and emphasizing this issue." Chairperson Wicker reiterated the importance of this confirmation, saying, "This committee proposed that the Pentagon establish a single position responsible for nuclear issues instead of a vast bureaucracy."
At the hearing, President Donald Trump's remark about "resuming nuclear tests" also came under scrutiny. A question was raised as to whether "the president's directive means actual nuclear explosive testing." Kadlec avoided a direct answer, saying, "If confirmed, I will clearly identify the nature of the instructions delivered to the Ministry of National Defense." He drew a line, saying, "I am not aware of the details of communication with the president."
Instead, Kadlec raised the possibility that China and Russia may be violating a treaty. He pointed out that "there has been a pattern of concern since 2019 about whether Russia and China are complying with the 1990 'Threshold Test Ban Treaty' (TTBT)." The TTBT is a treaty that allows only underground nuclear tests of 150 kilotons (kt) or less. In effect, he raised suspicions that China and Russia may be secretly conducting low-yield nuclear tests. This is in line with an earlier claim by President Trump that "both Russia and China are conducting nuclear tests but simply not making them public."