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Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNWs), often referred to as
"battlefield," "sub-strategic," or "non-strategic" nuclear weapons,
usually have a plutonium core and are typically distinct from
strategic nuclear weapons. Therefore, they warrant a separate
consideration in the realm of nuclear security. The yield of such
weapons is generally lower than that of strategic nuclear weapons
and may range from the relatively low 0.1 kiloton to a few
kilotons. Pakistan's quest to acquire tactical nuclear weapons has
added a dangerous dimension to the already precarious strategic
equation in South Asia. The security discourse in the subcontinent
revolves around the perennial apprehension of a conventional or
sub-conventional conflict triggering a chain reaction, eventually
paving the way for a potential nuclear crisis haunting peace and
stability in the region. Pakistan believes that the successful
testing of the 60-km nuclear-capable short-range missile Hatf-9
(Nasr) "adds deterrence value to Pakistan's strategic weapons
development programme at shorter ranges." In paradox, the fact
remains that this step has further lowered Pakistan's nuclear
threshold through the likely use of TNWs. The introduction of TNWs
into the tactical battle area further exacerbates credibility of
their control. Pakistan has not formally declared a nuclear
doctrine, but it is well known that nuclear weapons are its first
line of defence. The use of TNWs in the India-Pakistan case will
alter the strategic scenario completely as Pakistan would threaten
India with the use of TNWs in the event of New Delhi responding
against Islamabad with a conventional strike in reaction to a
26/11-style terrorist attack. Pakistan forgets that given its
offensive strategic posture and continuing involvement in terror
strikes in India, it is New Delhi which is confronted with the
problem of developing a strategy to counter Pakistan's
"first-strike" and proxy war in the light of its declared
"no-first-use" policy. This edited volume attempts to address and
decipher complex issues, including aspects such as China's WMD
collaboration with Pakistan, nuclear command and control dynamics
within Pakistan, overall rationale and implications of TNWs, safety
and security of nuclear weapons, scenarios for nuclear usage,
India's potential response options and, more specifically, the
technical aspects of the Nasr delivery system.
Tracing the genesis of the Senkaku Islands in the memoirs of
history, and its potential future, in the backdrop of the East
China Sea's brewing dispute, this book chronicles the journey of
Sino-Japanese relations in the explicit context of the Senkaku
Islands. The evolving power transition dynamics in East Asia render
Washington the lynchpin of Tokyo's diplomatic and security
strategy, and vice versa. Conversely, China is abrasively
displaying an almost predictable geo-strategic pattern and strategy
of enforcing territorial claims across Asia, keeping it just below
the threshold of provoking conflict, whilst testing the tenacity of
existential status quoist norms. Consequentially, the need to steer
Asia towards a regional order that maintains stability in the power
equilibrium, thereby challenging a visibly coercive Sino-centric
vision of the future Asia, especially within the Indo-Pacific, has
become far more manifest than ever before. Please note: Taylor
& Francis does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India,
Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
China's strides towards the creation of a formidable military
posture, backed by strong economic growth, demonstrate a resolve to
assert its claim towards becoming an Asian superpower. By opting to
showcase its military prowess to the world, the Chinese armed
forces have signalled that they have come a long way from what was
essentially a rustic and bucolic 'Red Army' that waged a 'People's
War' six decades ago. The modernisation programme undertaken by the
People's Liberation Army (PLA) can be interpreted as the foundation
of deterrence to attain the objectives of military strategy. Today,
the Chinese armed forces are preparing to fight small-scale,
high-intensity, regional combat and military operations in the
future. At the same time, China seeks to deter or prevent their
outbreak decisively through the possession of an adequate deterrent
force and the determination to use that force. Robust military
modernisation of the PLA represents a contrasting facet to the tall
claims made by China, in so far as its 'peaceful rise' campaign is
concerned. It is difficult to reconcile these rather opposing,
while equally reinforcing, ideas. As a consequence, the entire
debate on the impending "China threat" (Zhongguo weixie) theory has
progressively gained significance within the Asian continent and
beyond.
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