So going back to the talk earlier about the Chinese Nuclear Sub program, due to the US Thaad anti-missile defense and America's development of Hypersonic cruise missiles, China feels like they're nuclear deterrence is under threat and is going to begin long term Nuclear Deterrence patrols this year
http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/...gNb9&ocid=iehp
Basically this is a big step up in terms of China's Nuclear Program as it mates missiles and war heads together during long term patrols, while this isn't a finger on the trigger scenario, its equivalent to loading the bullets in a gun, chambering a round and disengaging the safety or cocking the hammer.
From a nuclear deterrence point of view, China will basically be going into a 24 hour a day heightened level of readiness in the China Sea.