Taiwanese Tanks Could Throw a Spanner in the Works of a Chinese Invasion They could be a key player in holding back a Chinese invasion force. But they can't do it alone. Here's What You Need To Remember: Even if China believes it would ultimately prevail in a ground invasion against Taiwan, the promise of a credible Taiwanese ground threat does change the equation. This could also decrease the possibility of any needed US intervention. The Trump administration’s plan to sell tanks, missiles and ground-launched air defenses to Taiwan embodies what might be called a strategic paradigm shift to empower the small island’s deterrence posture against an often-threatened Chinese invasion.