Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.
4. China’s hypersonic missile test may not have come with a Sputnik-like surprise, but it has the potential to set off a post-Sputnik-like arms race between nuclear powers that does not augur well for the strategic stability both at the global and regional level. Comment (250 Words)
Difficulty Level: High
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Recently China tested its nuclear-capable hypersonic weapons system.
Key Demand of the question:
Highlight the recent hypersonic missile test by China and its likely impact on the nuclear-powered nations.
Directive word:
Comment– here we have to express our knowledge and understanding of the issue and form an overall opinion thereupon
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Describe how China’s testing of nuclear-capable hypersonic weapons system can be linked to the launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957.
Body:
Mention that China’s pursuit of hypersonic missiles is neither new nor surprising.
Talk about Missile defence vulnerability, which can be understood as the inability of a nuclear-armed state to execute the first strike, leaving it vulnerable to a retaliatory second strike by the adversary.
Mention how Chinese tests have the potential to set off an aggressive competition among the nuclear powers to modernise their nuclear arsenals.
Write about the hypersonic weapons systems impact on strategic stability and its impact on India. Write what should be India’s course of action.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
