Very good point, and I know and agree.
If the Chinese use nukes on ANY of our forces, whether it be carriers, Navy flotillas at sea, Guam, Okinawa, etc., there will be a nuclear response.
To not respond with nukes would give the enemy the idea that we no longer will use MAD, and they may be free to nuke us more, and even win a nuclear war.
No one can. That’s the point. THEY have to calculate that.
BTW, we long ago gave up demolishing cities only. Leadership is the highest priority.
Dig your way out of thousands of tons of radioactive rubble, Mr. Xi, if you make it. Or better, think before you press go.
“The Navy has been addressing how to defend carriers from nuclear attack since Bikini Atoll nuclear tests. Those were over seventy years ago. “
So? They never did find a solution.