Part 2 of 7 in a series continuing The Asymmetry — Seen From Their Side, which asks whether the rules we demand from an adversary are rules we are willing to apply to ourselves and our allies.
Chinese live-fire drills along its coast this week are being watched closely in Taiwan. China has approximately 620 nuclear warheads, and its DF-26 missile can carry either conventional or nuclear payloads. A blockade, a misidentified launch, or a conventional battle could be misread as a step toward something worse. Taiwan possesses no nuclear arsenal. [4][14][15]
The asymmetry: an island whose future is disputed could become the setting for a confrontation between nuclear powers, without possessing a deterrent of its own.
Sources
[4] SIPRI, Yearbook 2026 nuclear forces summary, 8 June 2026
[14] Reuters, Chinese live-fire exercises watched by Taiwan, 12 Oct 2026
[15] CSIS Missile Threat, Chinese DF-26 ballistic missile
Full exhibits and source trail: The Asymmetry — Seen From Their Side.
AI collaboration: Andreae.com/aiwork — working method.