Given the difficulty of achieving the complete denuclearization of North Korea in the near term, the United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific have strong incentives to continue building their missile defense capabilities.

How does China think about nuclear weapons issues?

Asia’s nuclear powers must continue to maintain regional strategic stability to prevent security tensions from escalating.

With China developing sea-based nuclear missiles and the United States bolstering its antisubmarine capabilities, the region needs confidence-building measures to enhance strategic stability.

China and India have vast energy demands and civil nuclear programs. In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear crisis in Japan, nuclear safety and security will play a major role in both countries’ nuclear evolution and cooperation in the years to come.

China plays an increasingly important role in achieving a number of the goals for disarmament and nonproliferation contained within the U.S. Nuclear Posture Review and the Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference.