Initsplace, the U.S. passedtheTaiwanRelationsAct, whichwas a promisetomaintaintradeandculturalrelationswithTaiwan, butcruciallynot a promisetodefendtheislandintheeventof a Chineseattack.
AsTaiwanstalledChina, itssecondadvantage, theUnitedStates, coulddecidetointerveneandmoveinitsmilitary, givingTaiwan a highchanceofsuccessfullyrepelling a Chineseinvasion.
Whiletheseweaponsdon't giveTaiwantheabilitytodefeatChinaonitsown, theycouldlikelybuyitenoughtimetoallowthe U.S. todecidetocomehelp, whichwouldgiveit a higherchanceofsuccess.
TheproblemisthatinTaiwan, someleadersbelievetheystillneedthesemoreadvancedweaponstocounterChina's increasinglyaggressivebehaviorthatfallsshortof a full-scaleinvasion.