Regarding the military threat of China against Taiwan, the U.S. position affects not only U.S.-China-Taiwan relations, but also regional security and U.S. global leadership. From a security perspective, because China has never given up use of force against Taiwan, the U.S. response is important. Strategic ambiguity is the U.S. not saying clearly how it will respond if China threatens force against Taiwan, and strategic clarity is the U.S. responding if China threatens force against Taiwan. Although the U.S. is concerned about the PRC military threat against Taiwan, the different governments have adopted different policies.

President Tsai pledged to maintain the status quo. Since the Trump administration began, the U.S-China-Taiwan relationship has changed. According to U.S. official documents, the U.S. has strengthened U.S.-Taiwan security cooperation, and increased military sales to Taiwan. The Trump administration has gradually executed a strategic clarity policy in response to China military threats against Taiwan. However, President Trump presented strategic ambiguity and strategic clarity attitudes simultaneously regarding the the military threat of China against Taiwan in a TV interview in August 2020.