Abstract: The nuclear dimension of the China-India relationship has a striking feature vis-à-vis other nuclear rivalries. Due to significant asymmetries in their second strike capabilities, their deterrence relationship should lack military stability and entail risks such as potential nuclear use or threat of use, and nuclear arms race. In reality, however, the manifestation of such risks has been contained to a considerable extent. This situation can be explained by the features of the overall China-India relationship, the stability of the balance of conventional forces, the consolidation of confidence-building measures, the absence of the “stability-instability paradox” discourse, and the political conception of nuclear weapons in both countries. Full text available here.