Chinese military plan to keep their next generation intercontinental ballistic nuclear missiles on a hair-trigger state of readiness as a deterrent against the US. World leaders with the exception of Russia gathered in Washington today for the Nuclear Security Summit hosted by president Obama to discuss nuclear weapons and security. Sputnik reports: China’s nuclear deterrence strategy in the past has relied on patience, with a calm focus on long-term retaliation rather than immediate reprisal. Under President Xi Jinping, that policy is about to change. Chinese military leaders are pursuing a new state of readiness which would keep the nation’s nuclear stockpile on ready alert, prepared to launch at the first sign of an incoming attack. “When conditions are prepared and when necessary, we can, under conditions confirming the enemy has launched nuclear missiles against us, before the enemy nuclear warheads have reached their targets and effectively exploded, before they have caused us actual nuclear damage, quickly launch a nuclear missile retaliatory strike,” military strategists said, according to Defense One. By keeping its nuclear arsenal on a hair trigger, Beijing expects that it can ensure that the United States would be deterred from launching a first strike. Chinese nukes could be airborne as US missiles make their way across the Pacific, eliminating the possibility that US [...]