EXPLAINED: Why Taiwan wants U.S. weapons and why Washington supplies them

Taiwan seeks a $14 billion U.S. weapons sale to bolster its security amid tensions with China. The U.S. has historically served as Taiwan's de-facto military protector through arms sales and the Taiwan Relations Act, despite ending diplomatic recognition in 1979. Current U.S. policy balances the Taiwan Relations Act, Three U.S.-China Joint Communiqués, and the Six Assurances.