China ICBM/SLBM, nuclear arms thread

[vincent]

The reason MAD works is that currently no one possesses absolute first strike capability, so no one strikes first. In any case I feel like China should pursue first strike capability if it wants to become the dominant superpower

Since when China wants to be the dominant superpower? Can you show me a policy paper?

 

[totenchan]

that is the definition of first strike capability though. Hit the enemy so hard, and more importantly accurate, that it makes their retaliation either impossible or greatly reduced to a point where you deem acceptable. It's just a capability that's very hard to achieve, but if theoretically performed, it would be a preemptive surprise counterforce strike towards all of the enemy's nuclear weapons to ensure they cannot retaliate.

The reason MAD works is that currently no one possesses absolute first strike capability, so no one strikes first. In any case I feel like China should pursue first strike capability if it wants to become the dominant superpower

Do you think the no first use policy was declared on a whim? Your fantasies fly in the face of decades of careful nuclear policy and planning. Other countries will not just sit and watch as China pursues a first strike capability, just as China will not sit and watch if it seems like the United States is credibly pursuing the same.