The Indo–Soviet Treaty and China

The post-Second World War era may be divided broadly into four periods in terms of international strategic power balance. The first period stretched up to 1953–54, when the USA had a clear nuclear weapon superiority; the second period, 1953–54 to 1962–63, was a period of ‘delicate balance of terror’, when both the USA and the Soviet Union had nuclear weapons and delivery systems largely concentrated in first strike capabilities; the third period, 1963–1970, was the period of ‘stabilised deterrence’, with both countries having fairly balanced first and second strike capabilities. From 1970 onwards this bipolar strategic balance has been in the process of being disturbed, mainly as a result of the entrance of a new actor, China, in the arena of international power game. This has become possible as a result of China’s attainment of a big power status by virtue of its rapid advance towards a viable nuclear force.