The IISS report warns that conflict between China and the United States over the Taiwan issue could escalate into a nuclear crisis.

The London-based think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), warns that a conflict between China and the United States over Taiwan could escalate into a nuclear crisis, with both militaries likely to launch large-scale military operations against each other's command and communication hubs.

In an assessment report published on Thursday, IISS stated that the world stands on the brink of a new round of nuclear arms race, with the "Asia-Pacific region being at the core of this competition."

The strategic assessment report notes: "Regional states and countries with strategic interests are expanding their nuclear arsenals, while non-nuclear weapon states are pursuing long-range conventional strike capabilities—both trends pose challenges to strategic stability."

The report adds: "Given Taiwan's strategic importance to Beijing, a conflict with China could escalate dramatically, potentially reaching the level of nuclear war."

The report further states: "There is currently almost no public evidence indicating that the military forces of China and the United States understand the necessary precautionary measures or rules of engagement required to limit potential attacks on critical command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance nodes. Therefore, the risk of nuclear escalation remains persistent in a major conflict between China and the United States."

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866422311941196/

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