Grandview Institution Hosts the Second China–U.S. Nuclear Failsafe Dialogue

From October 11 to 12, the Grandview Institution (GVI) and the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (APLN) jointly convened the Second China–U.S. Nuclear Failsafe Dialogue in Beijing.

The U.S. delegation—led by Senator Sam Nunn, former Chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee; Dr. Ernest J. Moniz, former U.S. Secretary of Energy; Admiral (ret.) James O. Ellis, Jr., former Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command; and Professor Madelyn R. Creedon, former Principal Deputy Administrator of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)—met with more than a dozen leading Chinese experts for candid and in-depth discussions. The dialogue covered a wide spectrum of topics, including the current global nuclear landscape, the U.S. nuclear failsafe review system, China’s perspectives on nuclear failsafe mechanisms, risks to nuclear security posed by emerging technologies, and reflections on as well as approaches to advancing the international nuclear failsafe framework.

Participants agreed that, compared with the conceptual exchanges at the inaugural meeting, this year’s dialogue fostered a deeper and more pragmatic, rigorous, and forward-looking discussion—particularly regarding institutional design, comparative security environments, and the identification of shared interests and cooperative pathways among major nuclear powers, including China and the United States. Mr. Ren Libo, President of GVI, and Dr. Ernest J. Moniz, former U.S. Secretary of Energy, also delivered remarks on expanding future dialogue agendas, disseminating outcomes, and advancing related Track 1.5 engagements.

Observers from the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT), the Center for Strategic Studies of the China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), and the CNNC Strategic Planning and Research Institute attended the meeting. The dialogue received strong support from the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).

Participants

U.S. Participants:

1. Sam Nunn, Co-Founder, Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI); former Chairman, U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee

2. James O. Ellis, Jr., Admiral (Ret.); former Commander, U.S. Strategic Command

3. Ernest J. Moniz, Co-Chair, Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI); former U.S. Secretary of Energy

4. Madelyn R. Creedon, former Principal Deputy Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); former Chair, U.S. Congressional Strategic Posture Commission

5. Joan Rohlfing, President and Chief Operating Officer Emeritus, Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)

6. Paul Dean, Vice President, Global Nuclear Policy Program, NTI; former Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability

7. Steve Andreasen, National Security Consultant, NTI; former Director for Defense Policy and Arms Control, National Security Council (1993–2000)

8. Mark Melamed, Vice President, Global Nuclear Policy Program, NTI; former Deputy Director, Office of Multilateral and Nuclear Affairs, U.S. Department of State

9. Toya Jackson, Program Officer, Global Nuclear Policy Program, NTI

APLN Participants:

1. Kim Won-soo (participated via video), Chair, International Advisory Board, Taejae Academy (Future Consensus Institute); former UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs

2. Frank O’Donnell, Senior Research Adviser, Asia-Pacific Leadership Network (APLN); Nonresident Fellow, South Asia Program, Stimson Center

3. Liu Fang, Policy Fellow, Asia-Pacific Leadership Network (APLN)

Chinese Participants:

1. Shen Dingli, Member, Academic Committee, Grandview Institution (GVI); Director, Center for American Studies, GVI

2. Zhao Wuwen, Director and Research Fellow, Center for Strategic Studies, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP)

3. Sun Xiangli, Deputy Director and Research Fellow, Center for Strategic Studies, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP)

4. Zhang Qizheng, Associate Research Fellow, Center for Strategic Studies, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP)

5. Zhao Xuelin, Associate Research Fellow, CNNC Strategic Planning and Research Institute

6. Wu Riqiang, Professor, Department of International Relations, Tsinghua University

7. Li Wei, Executive Vice President, Shaanxi Academy of International Studies; Associate Professor, Institute of Middle East Studies, School of Regional and National Studies, Northwest University

8. Jiang Tianjiao, Associate Professor, Development Institute, Fudan University

9. Zhang Yi, Senior Research Fellow, Center for U.S. Studies, Grandview Institution (GVI)