China joined the “nuclear club” in 1964 with a nuclear test
at Lop Nor. At the same time China announced a ‘no-first-use’ policy.
It joined the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1984 and the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1992. In comparison to Russia and the USA,
China maintains a limited nuclear capability, emphasising the deterrent effect
of retaliation rather than flexible use strategies. However, US development
of ABM systems are perceived by China to be eroding the retaliation capabilities
and thus the deterrence value of their nuclear arsenal. In response, China may
increase its arsenal. China has opposed NMD and called for negotiations to prevent
an arms race in outer space. It has a policy of nuclear disarmament, and supports
negotiations on a nuclear weapons convention, but calls on the US and Russia
to bring their stockpiles down to numbers commensurate with those of the other
nuclear powers as the first step.
PNND Briefing Book- Nuclear Doctrine, China
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