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Cleary examines the forces that drive China's nuclear policy & the various considerations that shape its direction. The country's national security interests & strategic culture (primarily minimalism, strategic defense, & deliberate ambiguity) are reviewed, showing how they influence the preferences of the Chinese elite with regard to nuclear policy. Of considerable importance to the elite are comprehensive national power, the role of the Communist Party in China's overall development, & a stable security environment. While technology & the economy are not the constraints they once were in nuclear development, it is unlikely that they will be utilized to create a greater nuclear strike force. The country's aim seems to be modernization of its strategic capabilities &, eventually, development of a "small but modern nuclear war-fighting force.". J. Stanton

In the face of significant changes in the contemporary geopolitical environment, China's longstanding policy of maintaining a minimal nuclear stockpile may also be shifting. China's Nuclear Future provides a comprehensive overview of both the evolution of China's nuclear policy and the strategic implications of current developments. The authors examine a full range of issues, from China's rising economic fortunes to the impact of the U.S.-led war on terror. Their assessment of the drivers and constraints that are transforming China's nuclear posture is key to understanding not only the country's possible nuclear futures, but also the broader issue of its role in world politics