Is China Continuing It's 'No-First-Use' Policy Towards Nuclear Weapons

China’s No-First-Use Policy Promotes Nuclear Disarmament -- Hui Zhang, The Diplomat

On April 16, the Chinese Ministry of Defense released the eighth edition of China’s bi-annual white paper on defense since 1998. However, unlike the previous editions, this one does not reiterate China’s long-standing doctrine of no-first-use nuclear weapons. The obvious omission has sparked a debate over whether China is changing its nuclear doctrine. If China abandons its no-first-use nuclear pledge, which has guided China’s nuclear strategy since its first nuclear test in 1964, it would severely undermine the global disarmament process, potentially preventing the U.S. and Russian from further reducing their nuclear arsenals and even encouraging the U.S. to expand its nuclear forces. Is China really changing its nuclear policy?

Read more ....

My Comment: What would help the situation will be China opening up and becoming more transparent in it's nuclear weapons program and intentions. But China has always pursued a very secretive and independent approach towards their nuclear program .... telling everyone who wants to inquire to mind their own business. Trust and verify is not in their vocabulary.