Publication

This paper examines why China developed an enhanced radiation weapon (ERW) – better known as “neutron bomb” – but ultimately did not deploy it. To do this, the author reconstructs the ERW program’s history, assesses the motives behind the decisions made throughout the program, and considers its broader implications for China's decision-making on weapons development. He suggests that the "neutron bomb" adheres to a ‘technology reserve’ model in which China develops a weapons technology to match the capabilities of another state but defers deployment. The author concludes by examining how the technology reserve model applies to China’s decision-making on ballistic missile defense (BMD), anti-satellite (ASAT) and hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) systems.