ABSTRACT
Taiwan's security posture rests on military capability and political will. Analysis of these factors in the preceding chapters has not been reassuring. Military capability is declining in relation to China due to a lack of popular will to build a stronger deterrent force to confront the mainland; apparently due to a strategic syllogism holding sway in Taiwan:
China is not serious about employing military force against Taiwan;
if China does employ military force against Taiwan, the United States will intervene immediately and effectively;
therefore, Taiwan does not need to strengthen and modernize its military forces.
