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BEIJING, Feb. 5-- In the recently published 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), the United States lays bare its intention to further enhance what is already the world's most powerful nuclear deterrent. In an about-face from the 2010 NPR, which vowed to reduce the role and number of nuclear weapons, the new document seeks to modernize the country's nuclear arsenal and develop new low-yield atomic weapons. It claims that the strategy is aimed at protecting U.S. national security. But more likely, it will not work to this effect. More worryingly, it might give rise to similar ambitions worldwide. Washington remains the world's top nuclear power with no possible parallel on the surface of the Earth. Yet the Pentagon still attempts to hype up external nuclear threats against the country in a bid to justify its pursuit of a more powerful nuclear stockpile. The argument laid out in the NPR is far from being convincing. It is also rather fallacious as Washington claims it tries to reduce so-called nuclear risks by upgrading its nuclear weaponry. If a nuclear power as strong as the United States still feels like wanting a bigger gun, would that mean other countries have even greater justification to do the same? The truth is that Washington's intention to expand its nuclear strike capability and broaden the use of nuclear weapons will only make other countries feel more threatened. Some of them are very likely to follow suit. | 
