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Reposted by Taylor Fravel

Security Studies Program MIT @ssp-mit.bsky.social · 24d

SSP Director @fravel.bsky.social and Associate Professor @proftalmadge.bsky.social join the Strategic Simplicity Podcast to discuss China’s military transformation and the implications for US nuclear strategy.
🎧 strategicsimplicity.substack.com/p/part-i-of-...

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Foreign Affairs @foreignaffairs.com · Sep 3

“Xi may well deem it necessary to fight even if the PLA is not completely prepared,” writes @fravel.bsky.social. “Since the establishment of the People’s Republic in 1949, China has usually gone to war when conditions appeared to be unfavorable.”

Is China’s Military Ready for War?

What Xi’s purges do—and don’t—mean for Beijing’s ambitions.

fam.ag

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Caitlin Talmadge @proftalmadge.bsky.social · 25d

Delighted to have joined the Strategic Simplicity Podcast with @pranayrvaddi.bsky.social, @fravel.bsky.social, Austin Long, and Vipin Narang to discuss China's nuclear strategy!

Pranay Vaddi @pranayrvaddi.bsky.social · 28d

We're joined by Taylor Fravel and Caitlin Talmadge to talk China...or at least have 1/3 to 1/2 of a very long conversation about China. Link below.

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Security Studies Program MIT @ssp-mit.bsky.social · Jul 22

“Now, as then, Chinese leaders may pursue war even if the domestic economic and political conditions appear unfavorable—and even if the PLA is not ready to fight,” writes SSP Director M. Taylor Fravel (@fravel.bsky.social) for @foreignaffairs.com.

www.foreignaffairs.com/china/chinas...

Is China’s Military Ready for War?

What Xi’s purges do—and don’t—mean for Beijing’s ambitions.

www.foreignaffairs.com

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Taylor Fravel @fravel.bsky.social · Jul 18

New essay on purges in China’s armed forces and its impact on operational readiness

www.foreignaffairs.com/china/chinas...

Is China’s Military Ready for War?

What Xi’s purges do—and don’t—mean for Beijing’s ambitions.

www.foreignaffairs.com

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Taylor Fravel @fravel.bsky.social · Jun 9

A wonderful tribute to @ssp-mit.bsky.social's dear colleague, Owen Cote

networks.h-net.org/group/discus...

H-Diplo|RJISSF Tribute to the Scholarship and Legacy of Owen R. Coté, Jr. | H-Net

H-Diplo | Robert Jervis International Security Studvies ForumTribute to the Scholarship and Legacy of Owen R. Coté, Jr.

networks.h-net.org

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ChinaPower @chinapower.csis.org · Mar 22

Why can a direct comparison of two countries’ defense budget be misleading? @fravel.bsky.social explains: “no two countries in their published defense budgets report spending on the exact same categories.” Learn more here:

Getting China’s Defense Spending Right | ChinaPower Project

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Taylor Fravel, Dr. George Gilboy, and Dr. Eric Heginbotham join us to discuss their recent article assessing China’s defense budget. They challenge…

bit.ly

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · Mar 19

If you are visiting the United States, having a negative view of Trump is enough to get you denied entry.
If this was coming out of Russia or China, we would deplore such an authoritarian attack on freedom of expression.

"I learned with concern that a French researcher" on assignment for the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) "who was traveling to a conference near Houston was denied entry to the United States before being expelled ," said the Minister of Higher Education and Research, Philippe Baptiste, in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse (AFP). "This measure was apparently taken by the American authorities because the researcher's phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration's research policy ," he added

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Taylor Fravel @fravel.bsky.social · Mar 19

New book alert, expertly edited by Bard Nikolas Vik Steen.

Contributors include @stephenwalt.bsky.social @arkroeber.bsky.social @brunotertrais.bsky.social @fheisbourg.bsky.social myself and many more who are not yet on this channel

academic.oup.com/book/59461

Not Just Another Cold War: The Global Implications of the US-China Rivalry

Abstract. This book explores how the emerging superpower rivalry between the United States and China compares to the Cold War, and what that means for the

academic.oup.com

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Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · Mar 16

Exclusive: NIH officials have advised scientists to remove reference to mRNA vaccines from their grant applications, in expectation the Trump administration intends to abandon most research in the field.

By @arthurallen202.bsky.social

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

Scientists Say NIH Officials Told Them To Scrub mRNA References on Grants - KFF Health News

Two senior scientists say National Institutes of Health officials advised them to remove references to mRNA vaccines in grant applications, and they fear the Trump administration will abandon a promis...

kffhealthnews.org

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Taylor Fravel @fravel.bsky.social · Mar 17

What could possibly go wrong

DOGE Cuts Reach Key Nuclear Scientists, Bomb Engineers and Safety Experts

Firings and buyouts hit the top-secret National Nuclear Safety Administration amid a major effort to upgrade America’s nuclear arsenal. Critics say it shows the consequences of heedlessly cutting the ...

www.nytimes.com

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Security Studies Program MIT @ssp-mit.bsky.social · Mar 10

“Simply put: Nuclear proliferation to both allies and adversaries dilutes the privileges of power the United States enjoys,” writes the Center for Nuclear Security Policy’s Vipin Narang and @pranayrvaddi.bsky.social with coauthor @nktpnd.bsky.social for @warontherocks.bsky.social.
Read more👇🏽

Ankit Panda @nktpnd.bsky.social · Mar 10

My latest, with @pranayrvaddi.bsky.social and Vipin Narang, for @warontherocks.bsky.social: on why *even* an 'America First' approach to US statecraft benefits from limiting the spread of nuclear weapons, i.e., Trump should love nonproliferation warontherocks.com/2025/03/nucl...

Nuclear Proliferation Will Haunt ‘America First’ - War on the Rocks

It is no coincidence that Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland openly raised the possibility that his country may need to arm itself with nuclear weapons.

warontherocks.com

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Risa Brooks @risabrooks12.bsky.social · Feb 22

Firing General Brown and Admiral Franchetti is not a complete surprise to civmil watchers, but pulling this guy from retirement for chairman definitely is

It’s a strong signal that promotion to top positions will require complete ideological conformity from here on out

David Burbach 🌹 @dburbach.bsky.social · Feb 22

Trump is nominating a retired Air National Guard 3-star to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

Highest major command was Deputy Commander, CENTSOC

www.af.mil/About-Us/Bio...

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Taylor Fravel @fravel.bsky.social · Feb 15

Oppsies!

Trump officials fired nuclear staff not realizing they oversee the country’s weapons stockpile, sources say | CNN

Some of the fired probationary employees included on-the-ground staff at facilities where nuclear weapons are built.

www.cnn.com

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Taylor Fravel @fravel.bsky.social · Feb 6

“If I were a nation like China, Russia or Iran, I’d be having a field day with a bunch of college kids running around with sensitive federal government data on unencrypted hard drives.”

Musk’s DOGE agents access sensitive personnel data, alarming security officials

Elon Musk’s DOGE team has accessed highly restricted data maintained by the Office of Personnel Management, including personally identifiable information for millions of federal employees.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Taylor Fravel @fravel.bsky.social · Jan 27

Great opportunity!

Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · Jan 27

We are thrilled to issue the call for applications (global.upenn.edu/future-of-us...) for our third fellowship cohort, made possible by generous support from @carnegiecorp.bsky.social and the Henry Luce Foundation. Applications are due February 28.

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Security Studies Program MIT @ssp-mit.bsky.social · Jan 25

The Center for Nuclear Security Policy (CNSP) is pleased to announce that Pranay Vaddi has joined CNSP as the inaugural Senior Nuclear Fellow. @pranayrvaddi.bsky.social most recently served as special assistant to President Biden and as senior director for Arms Control, Disarmament, and...

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Taylor Fravel @fravel.bsky.social · Jan 5

Great analysis by Evan Medeiros

Xi has a plan for retaliating against Trump’s gamesmanship

China is marshalling its forces for long-term competition against an America that it believes is divided and in decline

on.ft.com

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Taylor Fravel @fravel.bsky.social · Dec 21

Great opportunity for recent or soon to be college graduates

Security Studies Program MIT @ssp-mit.bsky.social · Dec 19

Recent college graduates who are interested in nuclear security are encouraged to apply to this 1-yr program, with the possibility of a 2nd-year renewal. This fellowship includes MIT benefits.

For more information and to apply: careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
@mitofficial.bsky.social (2/2)

Nuclear Security Research Support Associate 2

MIT - Nuclear Security Research Support Associate 2 - Cambridge MA 02139

careers.peopleclick.com

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Security Studies Program MIT @ssp-mit.bsky.social · Dec 19

The Center for Nuclear Security Policy at MIT is seeking Nuclear Security Junior Fellows to serve as research assistants for faculty, researchers, and fellows on topics related to nuclear security. Fellows will report to the director of the Center for Nuclear Security Policy. (1/2)

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Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · Dec 20

We are delighted to announce the launch of a major new initiative which draws on the approach of the Penn Project in convening, over the next 2 years, leading next generation scholars and experts on China from throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Announcement here: bit.ly/41GUPvh

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Taylor Fravel @fravel.bsky.social · Dec 20

Great opportunity!

Security Studies Program MIT @ssp-mit.bsky.social · Dec 19

The Center for Nuclear Security Policy at MIT is seeking Nuclear Security Junior Fellows to serve as research assistants for faculty, researchers, and fellows on topics related to nuclear security. Fellows will report to the director of the Center for Nuclear Security Policy. (1/2)

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Taylor Fravel @fravel.bsky.social · Dec 6

Trump Taps Ex-Senator David Perdue for Ambassador to China

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Security Studies Program MIT @ssp-mit.bsky.social · Dec 3

Final call for applications!
The Security Studies Program at MIT is accepting applications for the Stanton Nuclear Security Fellows Program.

Applications are accepted through December 6, 2024. Decisions will be announced in January 2025. Information & application: ssp.mit.edu/about/fellow...

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Taylor Fravel @fravel.bsky.social · Nov 28

More big news …. Miao Hua, current member of the CMC in charge of political work is under investigation

on.ft.com/3ARpY4t

China probes top officer discipline ‘violations’

Investigation into Miao Hua takes Xi Jinping’s purge of military to its highest echelons

on.ft.com

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