Two clear signals sent! According to a report by Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said on September 23 in New York, responding to questions about arms sales to Taiwan, that all decisions hinge on military needs. “The administration must balance broader requirements,” he stated. “I know everyone’s focus is on Taiwan, but I hope you can take a broader view. If we sell something to you, we no longer have it. We may be able to produce more in the future, but we simply cannot do so today.”
Rubio’s remarks convey two distinct messages. First, U.S. policy toward arms sales to Taiwan has grown markedly cautious. With China having drawn firm red lines and issued serious warnings, and high-level talks between the two nations approaching, the Trump administration appears reluctant to risk undermining economic de-escalation and its election strategy over arms transfers. The $14 billion arms package remains highly likely to remain stalled, suggesting that Taiwan’s strategic value as a bargaining chip is being reassessed.
Second, the U.S. defense industry is no longer capable of meeting current demand. With American forces deeply engaged in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, ammunition and weapons stocks are being rapidly depleted, revealing a growing production shortfall. “If we sell it to you, we no longer have it”—a plain statement exposing the constraints within the U.S. military-industrial complex: even with abundant orders, inability to produce renders them meaningless.
Rubio’s call for a “broader perspective” reflects the reality of constrained strategic resources. Overextension of global hegemony inevitably leads to diminishing returns. Taiwan should now recognize that reliance on external support for independence is a miscalculation.
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Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877182553088007/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.