A new U.S. arms package for Taiwan will help boost the self-ruled island's ability to inflict a bloody nose on China in the case of an attack, enough to make Beijing think twice before launching a military adventure.
But Taiwan, which is expected to vote in a new government next month less friendly to China, needs advanced weapons such as the latest fighter jets or submarine-making technology if it stands a chance of holding off a concerted Chinese assault before U.S. forces come to the rescue.
"The idea is to complicate China's scenarios, to make them pause, to get them to think twice before they attack," said Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council.