Part 4/7:
Yet Taiwan spends only 2.1% of its GDP on defense, leading some to question whether it is truly committed to its own survival. Ferguson argues that this is a rational calculation based on the U.S. security guarantee, much like the free-riding behavior of many European countries during the original Cold War. However, he warns that this cannot be taken for granted, and the U.S. must be prepared to back up its commitments with real military power.