[Ending US arm sales to Taiwan] sacrifices none of the major U.S. goals in the Taiwan Strait and eliminates all the unpleasant consequences. The U.S. would avoid escalating the arms race with China and at the same time protect itself from Taiwanese entrapment and shirking.
A new era of East Asian security, marked by the triangulated relationship between the United States, China, and Taiwan, began in 1978. By officially establishing diplomatic relations with China and simultaneously establishing unofficial diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the United States was able to maintain the status quo of Taiwan independence and deny China the concessions it desired.