The Paradox of Panicking and Just Being America's Followers

The only reason they were shelling Kimo and Matsu Island helped by the by the Taiwanese in 1958 until 1979 was because those offshore islands were not included in the US, Taiwan mutual defense pad. For the same reason, the only reason China is being held back right now is because the United States has expressed clear strategic intent to defend Taiwan should China launch any military adventure against Taiwan Island itself.