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Significance
China has also announced changes to its nuclear weapons posture, including a rebranding of its nuclear forces. Since becoming a nuclear weapons state in 1964, China has consistently presented its nuclear arsenal as defensive and limited, in both quantity and quality. The recent developments call this into question.
Impacts
US allies in Asia will seek further reassurance from Washington, including ballistic missile defence cooperation.
There will be a quiet 'nuclearisation' of the South China Sea.
China is bolder with Obama leaving office; it may be less so once a new US administration is in place.
Xi may control the narrative around China's nuclear policy more closely, curtailing Chinese nuclear analysts' freedom of speech.
Keywords:
international relations,
defence,
foreign policy,
military,
nuclear weapons,
security,
China,
AP,
East Asia
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2016
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