Commentary Before there were “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD), there were nuclear-biological-chemical (NBC) weapons. NBC warfare has been a Cold War euphemism for decades, but disarmament advocates prefer WMD because the phrase is more frightening and easier understood by the average person. The militaries in NATO and the United States have written voluminous doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures on the conduct of NBC warfare. Such examples include “Allied Joint Doctrine for NBC” (pdf); “Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response” (pdf); “Combat Skills of the Soldier” (chapter 5, pdf); and “Naval Warfare Publication.” These and other related military publications are accessible online, and potential adversaries such as China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have been studying and wargaming them for years. Other than simple prudence, there is a specific reason for PLA interest in studying Western NBC (or WMD) doctrine: Red China has embarked on a multi-pronged campaign involving NBC warfare that …