In 1969, 270,000 Soviet troops massed on China’s borders, backed by batteries missiles with 500 kiloton nuclear warheads. The Chinese nuclear programme seemed set to be cracked apart, like an egg. But the Soviets held back. The lessons of that crisis showed it’s almost impossible to bomb a nuclear programme out of existence—but diplomacy can guide powers away from an apocalyptic showdown.----more----

https://theprint.in/opinion/security-code/why-1969-ussr-china-conflict-has-crucial-lessons-for-iran-israel/2669827/