It does makes sense to adopt this approach from the chinese perspective (perhaps this is why the chinese nuclear arsenal remained so pitifully low at 200-300 warheads for decades since the 1980s), but at least a stepped increase, such as occasioned by the various crises with the US or the Taiwan regime (1996 and 2001 comes to mind) that could have at least looked logical from the enemy's perspective, could have been adopted. Starting from the 2000s at least, various weapon systems either from chinese production or import would have been available that would still be tactically relevant today (with or without upgrades). A large part of US weapon systems are quite old (agewise) and repeatedly upgraded, so China could have done the same (aircraft, carriers, SSBNs could serve for decades with at least one or more upgrades during their life to keep them relevant).
Of course this is a could have should have (mulling over which this or that capability should have been procured in greater numbers is an interesting subject in itself of course) discussion that doesn't changes anything for the current situation. My point being, i'm not sure if China chose the rightest(?) path in regards to the buildup of it's military strength and if it's enough to face the current circumstances. I really hope it is.
