Escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula have put a renewed focus on nuclear threats. After the release last week of a Chinese white paper on defense, James Acton draws our attention the omission of China’s no-first-use policy and explains how this newly articulated position impacts the country’s nuclear policy.

Secretary of State John Kerry recently traveled to China in order to encourage further pressure on Pyongyang. Although Beijing is clearly upset with North Korea, Doug Bandow believes that Zhongnanhai will only act if it is in China's interest.

For nearly half a century, China’s No-First-Use pledge has served as the cornerstone of its nuclear policy, writes Major General Yao Yunzhu. It is better for China to uphold its NFU policy, rather than discredit such a commitment.

In the South China Sea it is essential to avoid future confrontation, not only for bilateral relations but also for the stability in the region. It is also necessary to move both bilateral and regional conflict management process forward.

How China and the U.S. relationship benefits from the provocative behavior from North Korea remains to be seen. Yet in a meeting between John Kerry and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, an agreement was reached on finding a peaceful way to ensure a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.

Despite Shintaro Ishihara’s clamors for war between Japan and China, Feng Zhaokui writes that the existence of disputes should be the very reason for enhanced people-to-people and even official exchanges to smooth over the Sino-Japanese relationship.

Maritime disputes constitute the single likeliest source of instability and military conflict with China, says Swaine. He explains the primary drivers of tension in the East and South China Seas and identifies steps Washington can take to reduce the risk of hostilities.

While China is repeatedly mentioned as the country that can and should play a special role in solving the North Korean crisis, Wang Wenfeng writes that China has only limited leverage and influence over North Korea, and oftentimes it’s not what China wants, but whether North Korea listens.

While China’s defense spending constantly comes under scrutiny, Kevin Baron analyzes the modernization of the People’s Liberation Army and breaks down where China’s military spending is going.

The fact that Barack Obama chose Israel as the destination of his first foreign visit during his second term in White House illustrates how important the Middle East is in the United States' global strategy, although Washington had, before the March 20-23 visit, ruled out any new plan for settling the Middle East issue.