Providing defence and security support to Taiwan is a complex challenge. Beijing considers Taiwan part of China and strongly opposes any foreign involvement in its defence or security, framing such actions as interference in internal affairs. Countries offering security or military aid risk provoking diplomatic and economic retaliation from China, which wields significant influence over other nations through trade, investment, and market access.
Legally, most countries, including the United States, do not formally recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state, which limits official engagement and support. Many maintain only informal ties with Taipei, often framed through their own interpretation of the “one-China” policy, distinct from Beijing’s “one-China principle.” This distinction is described in greater detail below.
Some countries conduct regular or occasional naval transits through the Taiwan Strait to signal a commitment to international law and regional stability. Others provide diplomatic backing, training programs, or even arms sales under the umbrella of informal relations with Taipei.
However, supporting Taiwan requires balancing deterrence with the risk of escalation. Too little assistance could leave Taiwan vulnerable; too much could provoke a Chinese military response or accelerate the path to conflict. Consequently, many states adopt carefully calibrated measures, strengthening Taiwan’s capacity for self-defence without taking steps that might be interpreted as a direct security guarantee.
One-China Policy vs the One-China Principle
US ‘one China policy’
The US ‘one China policy’ framework acknowledges China's sovereignty claims over Taiwan and is based on three sets of documents. These documents are the US-PRC joint communiques concluded in 1972, 1978 and 1982, the Taiwan Relations Act enacted in 1979 and the ‘six assurances’ communicated by Washington to Taiwan’s government in 1982.
The US recognises the PRC as the sole legal government of China but only acknowledges the Chinese position that there’s only one China and that Taiwan is a part of China.
Other countries
Several other countries maintain a similar one China policy, which is distinct from China’s ‘one China principle’.
For example, The 1972 Australia-PRC joint communique states:
‘The Australian Government recognises the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China [and] acknowledges the position of the Chinese Government that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China.’
The PRC’s ‘one China principle’
