Gerald C Brown
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geraldcbrown.bsky.social
Gerald C Brown
@geraldcbrown.bsky.social
China, Taiwan, defense, & nukes | Liberal NatSec-type | Opinions mine
Pinned
Curious about what China’s nuclear force is evolving into? Using Chinese primary sources, my latest publication from
@nbr.org maps out what China is building and the goals it intends to serve. 🧵 www.nbr.org/publication/...
Don't even know where to start
SCOOP: Trump is pardoning Michael McMahon, a retired NYC cop convicted of acting as an unregistered Chinese agent in a plot to intimidate a Chinese family in NJ.

Prosecutors said it was part of a CCP effort to control Chinese nationals around the world.

The WH says McMahon was tricked into it.
Trump Pardons Ex-Officer Convicted in a Chinese Government Plot
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Folks are too busy wringing their hands about imaginary Chinese shifts to counterforce and not spending enough time countering actual PRC nuclear intent--checking US nuclear options to enable conventional ops.
Curious about what China’s nuclear force is evolving into? Using Chinese primary sources, my latest publication from
@nbr.org maps out what China is building and the goals it intends to serve. 🧵 www.nbr.org/publication/...
November 7, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by Gerald C Brown
In case you missed it, Kerry Brown wrote a book that plagiarized Shelley Rigger’s classic book title.

I, along with others who were asked to review Kerry’s manuscript, said verbatim to change the title.

In the most tacky and unprofessional fashion, he stole her title anyway.
November 5, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Gerald C Brown
November 5, 2025 at 1:40 AM
What I never understand about these types of articles is the notion that these approaches are or should be mutually exclusive. The world's too complicated for that, and analysts and practitioners should not be observing global events through a singular worldview.
“The divide between international relations theory and practice is problematic in normal times, and downright dangerous in turbulent ones,” write Stacie Goddard and @jkertzer.bsky.social.
How to Put IR Theory Into Practice
American strategists should think more like social scientists.
www.foreignaffairs.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Well if everyone's going to be talking about nukes, might as well learn what China's moving towards on that front...

Seriously though, these problems aren't going away and are more relevant than ever--this affects much more than a small cadre of nuclear specialists.
Curious about what China’s nuclear force is evolving into? Using Chinese primary sources, my latest publication from
@nbr.org maps out what China is building and the goals it intends to serve. 🧵 www.nbr.org/publication/...
October 30, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by Gerald C Brown
What is the CCP’s vision for the PLA as a world-class military, and how does it intend to use this force to attain other national goals? Read the intro to NBR's new book "The PLA's Long March toward a World-Class Military": www.nbr.org/publication/... #China #XiJinping #PLA
October 29, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by Gerald C Brown
Curious about what China’s nuclear force is evolving into? Using Chinese primary sources, my latest publication from
@nbr.org maps out what China is building and the goals it intends to serve. 🧵 www.nbr.org/publication/...
October 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I've been yelling for folks to better understand the intersection of conventional and nuclear forces for quite some time, they don't work in isolation. Glad Adam dug into this, I'm looking forward to reading.
1. Crises, acquisitions, and policy all suggest that conventional weapons are taking on a larger role deterring nuclear use. My new article in @intsecurity.bsky.social examines why US officials would consider conventional options when they have nuclear options available and how they might use them.
October 28, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Really excited this is finally out, a breakdown of my own chapter on the direction, goals, and application of China's nuclear force can be found linked here: bsky.app/profile/gera...
NEW BOOK! "The PLA's Long March toward a World-Class Military" examines #XiJinping ’s requirement for the #PLA to achieve "world-class" status by midcentury and the role it will play in supporting the #ChineseCommunistParty 's pursuit of national rejuvenation: nbr.org/publication/...
October 28, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Reposted by Gerald C Brown
NEW BOOK! "The PLA's Long March toward a World-Class Military" examines #XiJinping ’s requirement for the #PLA to achieve "world-class" status by midcentury and the role it will play in supporting the #ChineseCommunistParty 's pursuit of national rejuvenation: nbr.org/publication/...
October 27, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Curious about what China’s nuclear force is evolving into? Using Chinese primary sources, my latest publication from
@nbr.org maps out what China is building and the goals it intends to serve. 🧵 www.nbr.org/publication/...
October 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM