>> Sorry, I meant strategic weaponry. Long-range weapons that would let Taiwan legitimately threaten e.g. Beijing. The US has naval vessels and aircraft that c

>> Sorry, I meant strategic weaponry. Long-range weapons that would let Taiwan legitimately threaten e.g. Beijing. The US has naval vessels and aircraft that can do that from the strait of Taiwan or elsewhere. Why would the US sell such weapons to Taiwan when the US could employ them directly if needed? In theory the US could position ground-based strategic weapons in Taiwan (Cuban missile crisis-style), but that would be too aggressive and could provoke an attack. Besides, a submarine, ship, or aircraft could employ similar weapons without being a fixed target.