We invested heavily in nuclear weapons with the intention of never using them. Sometimes it really is about deference. Taiwan isn't arming because they want to

We invested heavily in nuclear weapons with the intention of never using them. Sometimes it really is about deference. Taiwan isn't arming because they want to fight China. Historically, a lot of people in the early 20th century thought that war wouldn't (or couldn't) happen because it would be too unimaginably destructive. The first world war was called the war to end all wars, and despite later usage originally it was not meant ironically.