Das nukleare Potential der Volksrepublik China

Abstract Since her first successful nuclear explosion in 1964, the People's Republic of China has built up a modest but nevertheless effective nuclear capacity. In a series of 23 test explosions she has made rapid progress towards the development of a diversified arsenal of nuclear warheads. At the same time, China's missile program has not met the expectations of Western observers. However, the fact that the Chinese have not yet deployed Inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBM's), but instead have been relying on Medium-range and Intermediate-range ballistic missiles seems to have political rather than technical reasons. At the moment, China doesn't consider the United States to be a military threat to her national security; all her efforts are directed against the Soviet Union. So far China has responded highly critically to all agreements on nuclear arms control and disarmament initiated by the two atomic superpowers. China hasn't signed the Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and opposes a general nuclear test-stop. However, her policy has in actual fact been one of strict nonproliferation and there are signs that she might play a more active part in the international arms control diplomacy in the near future.