IMO this is hinting at PRC pursuing (conventional) prompt global strike with hypersonics. Other moves like building up nuclear stockpile to move away from minim

IMO this is hinting at PRC pursuing (conventional) prompt global strike with hypersonics. Other moves like building up nuclear stockpile to move away from minimum deterrence etc supports such posture change. I've speculated this is the best capability for PRC to acquire to counter US power projection and other capability asymmetries. Key line from article: “With effective hypersonic precision strike weapons, the critical value of ‘strategic depth’ in traditional warfare will no longer exist. All the critical political, economic and military assets of a country will be at risk.” There was another piece by SCMP from PRC researchers working on AI to calibrate hypersonic hardware accuracy down to 10 meters. That's the level of accuracy/CEP that can hit target of any size, anywhere. Better IR detectors is just another piece of the capability puzzle. Combine this with PRC building up nuclear stockpile, basically moving away from minimum deterrence, while maintaining No First Use. Suggests PRC wants to eventually build nuclear MAD to gamble hitting CONUS targets with conventional hypersonic/ICBMs without triggering immediate second strike.