China Nuclear Doctrine: An Analysis Based On Traditional Strategic Culture And Realistic Benefit

Researching the doctrine of a nuclear weapons state is the most intuitive way to understand its attitude to peace and war. As one of the five acknowledged nuclear weapons states, China employs a unique nuclear doctrine and attracts attention of whole world. On October 16,1964, China conducted its first nuclear weapon test explosion, and then China issued a statement that proclaimed its NU/NFU police stately. "At no time or under no circumstances wound china first use nuclear weapons", China says. In the subsequent 40 years, China have been insisting on this pure self-defense nuclear doctrine characterized by the NFU policy and made outstanding contributions to the world's strategic stability. But the rapid change of world nuclear posture after cold war influences our nuclear security environment and nuclear thinking greatly. A question which is urgently need to know is whether the pure self-defense nuclear doctrine can adapt to the situation. The answer to this question not only relates to the country's important strategic thinking and policy formulation, but also relates to China's long and peaceful destiny. Based on the summing up the history of China's development of nuclear strategy, this article argue that we need to combine traditional Chinese culture and strategic interests of reality to interpret China's nuclear strategy and its direction in the new era. The author believe that China should insist on pure self-defense nuclear doctrine , but at the same time China also need to properly handle the relations with the United States and make further efforts for maintaining the effectiveness of China's nuclear deterrence.