The changing of China's nuclear doctrine in the context of regional threats

Abstract

East Asia poses the greatest threat to nuclear non-proliferation regime: there is one of the official nuclear powers, one unrecognized nuclear state (DPRK), three states which have technical ability to develop nuclear weapons within a short period of time there (South Korea, Japan, Taiwan). Changes in Chinese new nuclear doctrine along with military modernization program may indicate Chinese aspiration to join the pair of nuclear superpowers and set up complete control over the region.
Key words: non-first-use principle, military modernization, regional anti-ballistic missile system, «nuclear domino».