Gerald C Brown
@geraldcbrown.bsky.social
China, PLA, Taiwan, defense, & nukes | Liberal natsec-type | Opinions mine
Pinned
Gerald C Brown
@geraldcbrown.bsky.social
· Oct 27
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/...
@nbr.org maps out what China is building and the goals it intends to serve. 🧵 www.nbr.org/publication/...
I don't know who needs to hear this but please do not let the anon meme folks whose policy platforms include paying thousands of people to listen for enemy bombers over CONUS send you to the Ukrainian frontline.
Ok these clowns are either just a hilariously inept group of anonymous wannabes with laughable ideas, or the funniest recruiting op for the Ukrainian foreign legion around. I don't even know where to start with this. defenseanalyses.org/fellowship/
January 15, 2026 at 3:37 PM
I don't know who needs to hear this but please do not let the anon meme folks whose policy platforms include paying thousands of people to listen for enemy bombers over CONUS send you to the Ukrainian frontline.
Ok these clowns are either just a hilariously inept group of anonymous wannabes with laughable ideas, or the funniest recruiting op for the Ukrainian foreign legion around. I don't even know where to start with this. defenseanalyses.org/fellowship/
January 15, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Ok these clowns are either just a hilariously inept group of anonymous wannabes with laughable ideas, or the funniest recruiting op for the Ukrainian foreign legion around. I don't even know where to start with this. defenseanalyses.org/fellowship/
These DARC clowns were running around spending their time complaining about how useless and weak ideas coming out of think tanks were. Now they've started writing their own ideas and they're... 100 times worse.
It's really easy to be a critic and complain, much harder to do. These are hard problems
It's really easy to be a critic and complain, much harder to do. These are hard problems
Thread:
This is obviously a deeply stupid and bizarre piece that is simultaneously up its own ass, but I think it’s worth taking a look through it. On the one hand, to admire the derangement- but on a darker note, to consider how this stuff could make it’s way into more “serious” pro-annexation messages.
January 9, 2026 at 10:23 PM
These DARC clowns were running around spending their time complaining about how useless and weak ideas coming out of think tanks were. Now they've started writing their own ideas and they're... 100 times worse.
It's really easy to be a critic and complain, much harder to do. These are hard problems
It's really easy to be a critic and complain, much harder to do. These are hard problems
It's been a... tiring year
December 31, 2025 at 9:04 PM
It's been a... tiring year
Let's be real, this would solve a lot of problems--so long as it had a decent whiskey selection.
The parties and happy hours are hollow, issues get hammered out a few whiskeys in at a dive on the back of a napkin.
The parties and happy hours are hollow, issues get hammered out a few whiskeys in at a dive on the back of a napkin.
And that can only be done at the right cocktail parties.
We need a dive bar based Dem foreign policy career track.
We need a dive bar based Dem foreign policy career track.
December 28, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Let's be real, this would solve a lot of problems--so long as it had a decent whiskey selection.
The parties and happy hours are hollow, issues get hammered out a few whiskeys in at a dive on the back of a napkin.
The parties and happy hours are hollow, issues get hammered out a few whiskeys in at a dive on the back of a napkin.
Reposted by Gerald C Brown
As I get closer to the launch of my new book, THE MOST AWFUL RESPONSIBILITY, I have started to really in earnest update some pages relating to it. Here is one that contains photos relating to the book — some well-known, some unusual/rare. alexwellerstein.com/writing/book...
The Most Awful Responsibility :: Photographs – Alex Wellerstein
alexwellerstein.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM
As I get closer to the launch of my new book, THE MOST AWFUL RESPONSIBILITY, I have started to really in earnest update some pages relating to it. Here is one that contains photos relating to the book — some well-known, some unusual/rare. alexwellerstein.com/writing/book...
Separately, I remember when I was in grad school another student trying to make the argument that the Army was still the most important service in the PLA due to everything being called the People's Liberation Army, and having to try and explain all of this. Isn't language fun?
Yep, honestly its just a translation thing. 解放军 could maybe more literally be "People's Liberation Military" in the naming context. All of the branches start with that then have the actual service type after, so the actual army is 解放军陆军，so 解放军 People's Liberation Army, 陆军 Ground Army.
November 21, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Separately, I remember when I was in grad school another student trying to make the argument that the Army was still the most important service in the PLA due to everything being called the People's Liberation Army, and having to try and explain all of this. Isn't language fun?
Reposted by Gerald C Brown
Gerald C. Brown examines the future trajectory of China’s #nuclear force as it shifts to a “world-class” #nuclearforce, including drivers, political objectives, employment, and capability developments in his chapter from the new book in NBR's PLA series.
www.nbr.org/publication/... #China
www.nbr.org/publication/... #China
November 12, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Gerald C. Brown examines the future trajectory of China’s #nuclear force as it shifts to a “world-class” #nuclearforce, including drivers, political objectives, employment, and capability developments in his chapter from the new book in NBR's PLA series.
www.nbr.org/publication/... #China
www.nbr.org/publication/... #China
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.
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
Don't even know where to start
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/...
@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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Reposted by Gerald C Brown
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
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.
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.
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/...
@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
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.
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.
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
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
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/...
@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
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/...
@nbr.org maps out what China is building and the goals it intends to serve. 🧵 www.nbr.org/publication/...
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
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.
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
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...
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
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/...
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/...
@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
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/...
@nbr.org maps out what China is building and the goals it intends to serve. 🧵 www.nbr.org/publication/...