Good point Juggs, the Chinese aren't suicidal. The same thing that helped keep the peace between the U.S. and Soviet Union applies with China- Mutual Deterence. I'd be much more worried about a country run by a hardcore muslim fundamentalist who beleives that to die while fighting for Allah guaruntees admission to heaven. Think suicide bomber on a grand scale. Sure they might only have one or two nukes and only be able to take out D.C or New York while we turn their country into glass but they might figure its a glorious way for their country to die.

This is theoretical of course, such a country doesn't exist...yet. But Pakistan has nukes and a lot of really hard core Muslims. Of course 99% of Muslims are good, peace loving people but it only takes 1 charismatic Bin Laden type rising to power and then who knows.