Project Atom 2025: Escalation Management in Acute and Protracted Conflicts in the Indo-Pacific

Introduction 1

Off-Ramps as a Tool of U.S.-China Escalation Management 21

It Could Always Get Worse: Managing Escalation Risks with China 35

No Nuclear Substitute for Conventional Denial 45

Overestimating Prospects for Escalation Management 57

“Today is not the day”: How the United States’ Allies Contribute to U.S. Strategic Advantage in Deterrence and Escalation Management 67

About the Authors 80

Endnotes 84