China's nuclear strategy and increasing existential threat perception

China's nuclear strategy has been changing in response to an increasing sense of existential threat. It now views nuclear weapons not only as a means of deterrence, but also as a tool to influence international perception of its strategic power. Chinese leadership has become more determined to preventively address rising threats and to maintain regime security. China's nuclear build-up is driven by a desire to counter increasing geopolitical threats and to influence the behavior of US-led Western countries. However, the lack of checks and balances in China's decision-making process, as well as the increasing centralization of power, has led to tensions and contradictions in its nuclear thinking. Changes in means and goals of China's nuclear strategy are primarily a result of internal factors, such as Xi Jinping's personal influence and a less coherent decision-making process.