The Limitations of NSC-68 as a Guide to Strategic Competition with the PRC
NSC-68, a fundamental paper created in 1950 during the early years of the Cold War, was critical in establishing US policy toward the Soviet Union. It stressed containment and increased defense spending due to the feared existential threat presented by the Soviet Union. However, assessing its usefulness as a guide for the United States in its present approach to strategic rivalry with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) exposes primary limits due to substantial changes in the historical backdrop and the modern strategic terrain.
“In a world of polarized power, the policies designed to develop a healthy international community are more than ever necessary to our strength. As for the policy of “containment,” it seeks by all means short of war to
- block further expansion of Soviet power,
- expose the falsities of Soviet pretensions,
- induce a retraction of the Kremlin’s control and influence, and
- in general, so foster the seeds of destruction within the Soviet system that the Kremlin is brought at least to the point of modifying its behavior to conform to generally accepted international standards.” (Nitze, 1950).
The Soviet Union vs. China as Enemies of the US
One significant contrast is the character of the enemies. The Soviet Union was an ideologically motivated superpower with global ambitions, but while powerful, China lacked the same ideological struggle as the US. The PRC emphasizes regional and economic rather than global and ideological, necessitating a more nuanced and distinct approach. The technical and economic dynamics have radically changed. In these areas, the United States was unrivaled in the 1950s.
Today, the United States has a serious adversary in the form of the People’s Republic of China, which has emerged as a technical powerhouse and worldwide economic force. When examining the necessity for a holistic strategy that tackles not only military concerns but also economic, scientific, and diplomatic dimensions, the limits of NSC-68 as a guide to dealing with the PRC become clear. While the text provides valuable insights into strategic thinking from a bygone period, it cannot be used as a one-size-fits-all template for the PRC’s varied issues in today’s globe.
Reference
Nitze, P. (1950). NSC 68: United States Objectives and Programs for National Security. American Cold War Strategy: Interpreting NSC, 68.