The Chinese Nuclear Strategy at the Beginning of the 21st Century

Abstract

At the beginning of the 21st century, the People’s Republic of China stands as an emergent global military and nuclear power. The expansion of China’s nuclear arsenal and its capabilities is a primary objective of the state’s defensive efforts, being concurrent with updating China’s overall security strategy. The present paper seeks to provide a glance into Chinese perceptions and concerns for nuclear security and to analyse the key points and developments in the country’s nuclear strategy over the past decade. Ultimately, the paper has as the primary purpose to provide a comprehensive insight into the objectives of China and its nuclear forces and strategy.