A new assessment by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) warns that tensions between the United States and China over Taiwan could increase the risk of a nuclear escalation. Both outlets report that the study characterizes the global security environment as being at the threshold of a renewed nuclear arms race, with the Asia-Pacific region at its core. The reports frame the warning in the context of possible escalation dynamics between the two powers, arguing that Taiwan remains a central flashpoint in U.S.-China relations. While the study focuses on nuclear risk, it does not claim an immediate nuclear exchange, instead describing a heightened danger if rivalry and military postures further intensify. The overall message from the two sources is that the possibility of crisis escalation—stemming from Taiwan-related tensions—could worsen strategic stability and lead to further nuclear build-up or deterrence pressures in the region.