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America’s Pacific Century

Documents

The Joint U.S.-China Communique, Shanghai, February 27, 1972

Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America, January 1, 1979

U.S.-PRC Joint Communique, August 17, 1982

Taiwan Relations Act

“Whither China: From Membership to Responsibility?” Robert B. Zoellick, Deputy Secretary of State, Remark to National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, September 21, 2005

U.S.-China Joint Statement 2009. 11. 17

China-Taiwan: Recent Economic, Political and Military Developments Across the Strait and Implications for the United States David B. Shear, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Mar. 18, 2010

2010 Report to Congress of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission

U.S.-China Joint Statement, January 19, 2011

[News] [Papers]
~2004 ; 2005-2006; 2007-2008; 2009

Abandoning Taiwan Is ‘Unthinkable,’ Ex-Obama Administration Official Says (Taipei Times, Mar. 28, 2012) “There is a pretty strong consensus” in Washington “about the importance of Taiwan” said Jeffery Bader, who added that his view significantly reflected those of his former colleges in the NSC and the US Department of State.

President Calls for US to Approve Visa Exemption
(CNA, Mar. 27, 2012) President Ma thanked the US government for its arms sales, and for supporting Taiwan’s participation at world events, during a meeting with Jeff Bader.

US’ Taiwan Policy Act Being Blocked
(Taipei Times, Mar. 24, 2012) The passage of the Taiwan Policy Act in the US has been blocked by the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, with Republican lawmakers voicing doubts over the handling of safety issues relating to visa-waiver programs by the administration of US President Barack Obama.

Obama a ‘Solid Friend’ of Taiwan, Think Tank Says
(Taipei Times, Mar. 16, 2012) A new report on US-China relations in an election year concludes that US President Barack Obama has been a “solid friend of Taiwan.”

AIT Stresses Taiwan’s ‘Undoubted’ Importance to US
(CNA, Mar. 12, 2012) William Stanton, director of the Taipei office of the American Institute in Taiwan, said recently that despite a bilateral dispute over beef, Taiwan remains a country whose importance to the United States is “undoubted.”

Nominee to Lead US Pacific Command Supports the TRA
(Taipei Times, Feb. 12, 2012) The nominee for US Pacific Command commander has expressed his firm support for the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), which obliges Washington to help Taipei defend itself.

US Reiterates Support for Cross-Strait Ties
(Taipei Times, Feb. 1, 2012) Ben Rhodes, the deputy US national security advisor for strategic communications, said the administration of US President Barack Obama had always backed Ma’s pursuit of better relations across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan Moves 1 Step Closer to US Visa Waiver
(China Post, Jan. 21, 2012) U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has formally requested that the Secretary of Homeland Security consider Taiwan for the Visa Waiver Program, according to a White House press release.

After Election, US Presses Taiwan on Beef
(AFP, Jan. 20, 2012) The United States urged Taiwan to ease restrictions on US beef, saying it wanted to focus more on economic relations with the island after President Ma Ying-jeou won re-election.

US Wants Taiwan to Join in Aid Cooperation
(Taipei Times, Dec. 3, 2011) The US would like to engage in expanded and more effective cooperation with Taiwan in delivering humanitarian assistance, eliminating hunger and child malnutrition, and investing in healthcare to reduce infectious diseases.

Taiwan, United States Talk Counter-Piracy Cooperation
(CNA, Dec. 3, 2011) The U.S. delegation, composed of members of the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense, was led by Donna Hopkins, coordinator of the Counter Piracy and Maritime Security in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.

US House Body Votes to Adopt New Laws on Taiwan
(Taipei Times, Nov. 19, 2011) The US House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs voted unanimously to adopt two new laws to substantially boost US relations with Taiwan.

Clinton Issues Call for US ‘Pacific Century’
(Reuters, Nov. 12, 2011) With the US facing a multipronged challenge from China, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton declared that the 21st century would be “America’s Pacific century” and said the region’s problems required US leadership.

U.S. to Build Up Military in Australia
(Wall Street Journal, Nov. 10, 2011) President Barack Obama will announce an accord for a new and permanent U.S. military presence in Australia when he visits next week, a step aimed at countering China's influence and reasserting U.S. interest in the region, said people familiar with his plans.

US Lawmakers Stress Import of ‘Six Assurances’
(Taipei Times, Nov. 10, 2011) Leading members of Congress have written to US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to stress the importance of the “six assurances” that former US president Ronald Reagan gave to Taiwan.

US Pursues Ways to Raise Level of Meetings with ROC: Official
(CNA, Oct. 6, 2011) The United States has maintained regular consultations with Taiwan at senior levels and is actively exploring ways to raise the level of such engagements, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs said.

Visa Waiver Inclusion Nearing: US Official
(CNA, Oct. 6, 2011) Taiwan's application for inclusion in the United States' visa waiver program is continuing to head toward the finish line and progress will be in sight in the very near term, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs said.

Visa-Waiver Talks with US Enter Final Stages: Envoy
(CNA. Oct. 1, 2011) Taiwan's application to participate in the United States' visa-waiver program is entering the final stages, said Leo Lee, Taiwan's deputy representative to the U.S.

US Trade Delegation Holds Talks
(Taipei Times, Oct. 1, 2011) A delegation led by US Deputy Assistant Trade Representative for China and Taiwan Affairs Eric Altbach held working-level meetings with their Taiwanese counterparts in Taipei.

US Senate Passes Resolution Backing Taiwan’s ICAO Bid
(CNA, Sep. 23, 2011) The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution in support of Taiwan's observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), to enable it to play a part in maintaining global air transport security.

Highest-level US Trip to Taiwan in Five Years
(AFP, Sep. 10, 2011) US assistant secretary of commerce Suresh Kumar is scheduled to visit Taiwan next week, the highest-level American official to come to the island in over five years, its mission in Taipei said.

WikiLeaks: Beef Imports Top Priority for US and Taiwan: Cable
(Taipei Times, Sep. 9, 2011) The longstanding impasse over US beef imports to Taiwan was an issue addressed in plenty of US diplomatic cables regarding bilateral relationships released by WikiLeaks, with the subject being termed by a top US official on Taiwan as “the highest priority for the White House.”

WikiLeaks: AIT Urged VISA Waivers for Taiwan
(Taipei Times, Sep. 7, 2011) A leaked US cable shows the AIT strongly suggested that the US grant Taiwan visa-waiver status, saying it was in Washington’s “national interests” and could fend off the “threat” to US predominance in Taiwanese society amid Taipei’s warming ties with Beijing.

Ros-Lehtinen to Seek Enhanced TRA
(Taipei Times, Sep. 4, 2011) US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairperson of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, will introduce new legislation over the next few days to strengthen and enhance the Taiwan Relations Act.

WikiLeaks: US Rules for Contacting Taiwanese Revealed
(Taipei Times, Aug. 25, 2011) The cable, dated Sept. 5, 2008, showed that then-US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice issued a directive to overseas diplomatic missions detailing the guidelines, which the cable said did not apply to the American Institute in Taiwan.

US Official Says Biden Didn’t Refer to Taiwan As China’s ‘Core Interest’ (CNA, Aug. 24, 2011) An official of the U.S. State Department said that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden did not refer to Taiwan and Tibet as part of China's core interests, as was reported by Xinhua news agency last week during Biden's visit to Beijing.

US Senate Supports Taiwan’s Role in Regional Aviation
(Taipei Times, Jul. 28, 2011) The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations passed a resolution on Tuesday in support of Taiwan’s observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Gary Locke Confirmed As U.S. Ambassador to China
(Washington Post, Jul. 27, 2011) The Senate unanimously confirmed outgoing Commerce Secretary Gary Locke as the next U.S. ambassador to China, making him the first Chinese-American to assume that post.

US Reaffirms Taiwan Relations Act: Legislators
(CNA, Jul. 19, 2011) United States congressmen have reaffirmed that there will be no changes to the Taiwan Relations Act, a lawmaker who recently returned from the U.S. said.

US Lawmakers Plan TRA Enhancement
(Taipei Times, Jun. 18, 2011) US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairman of the US House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee, told a special hearing on Taiwan that she would soon introduce new legislation “to enhance the Taiwan Relations Act.”

Gates Talks of Boosting Asian Security Despite Budget Cuts
(New York Times, Jun. 3, 2011) Mr. Gates noted the balance sought by the United States between its obligations to defend Taiwan from aggression and its desire for cordial ties with China.

Envoy-to-be Gary Locke Aimes to Rebalance U.S.-China Trade
(Reuters, May 26, 2011) Gary Locke vowed to win more access to Chinese markets; he said he would also raise concerns about China’s human rights record and convince the Chinese to be more helpful in curbing nuclear proliferation.

US Not Opposed to ‘Academies’
(Taipei Times, Apr. 6, 2011) The US was not opposed to Taiwan establishing “Taiwan Academies” in the US as part of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, and would be happy to work with Taipei to materialize the plan, the American Institute in Taiwan said.

Armitage Reassures on US Commitment
(Taipei Times, Mar. 30, 2011) Praising the development of Taiwan’s democracy, former US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage reassured Taiwan of the US’ security commitment.

US Comfortable with Improved Cross-Taiwan Strait Ties: AIT Head
(CNA, Mar. 9, 2011) The United States encourages increased cross-Taiwan Strait dialogue and is not nervous about warming ties between Taiwan and China, the top U.S. diplomat in Taiwan said.

A New Job in Beijing for Secretary of Commerce
(New York Times, Mar. 8, 2011) President Obama plans to nominate Gary F. Locke, the commerce secretary and one of the highest-ranking Chinese-Americans in the administration, as the next American ambassador to China.

US Commitment Deteriorating: Report
(Taipei Times, Mar. 3, 2011) US policy on Taiwan under US President Barack Obama has taken a “hazardous” turn that appears to be moving toward support for Beijing’s interpretation of its core interests, the US-Taiwan Business Council said in a special commentary released.

US to Cut VOA Broadcasts in Chinese
(Taipei Times, Feb. 16, 2011) Voice of America plans to end all radio and TV broadcasts in Mandarin and Cantonese starting in October amid a budget cut plan announced by US President Barack Obama, reports said. China’s Response

New U.S. Military Strategy Focuses on Asia
(Chosun Ilbo, Feb. 10, 2011) The U.S. Defense Department predicts that America will face bigger challenges in the Asia-Pacific region due to the emergence of China and India and North Korea's nuclear program.

US Kept Taiwan in Mind during Hu Trip: Burghardt
(Taipei Times, Jan. 26, 2011) The American Institute in Taiwan head said that the US stuck by the Taiwan Relations Act when President Obama held talks with China’s Hu Jintao.

Washington’s Cross-Strait Power Fading: Analysts
(CNA, Jan. 23, 2011) A “metamorphosis” in cross-Taiwan Strait development could bring a fundamental change to the triangular relations among Taiwan, China and the United States, with Washington's influence fading, analysts said.

Opinions Differ on US-China Statement
(Taipei Times, Jan. 22, 2011) Officials and academics offered different interpretations of the differences between the recent US-China joint statement and the one signed in 2009 and whether the US supported China’s claim to sovereignty over Taiwan.

Obama Salutes Taiwan-China Progress
(AFP, Jan. 21, 2011) U.S. President Barack Obama voiced hope for a further easing of tensions over the Taiwan Strait as he pledged to stick to U.S. recognition of Beijing as the sole government of China.

Taiwan Grateful for US. Commitment to Taiwan Relations Act
(CNA, Jan. 20, 2011) The Republic of China government appreciates U.S. President Barack Obama's reaffirmation of his administration's commitment to upholding the Taiwan Relations Act in its engagement with China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Hu Meeting May Have No Effect: Ex-representative
(China Post, Jan. 19, 2011) “Taiwan issue will not be of major concern for both sides in the meeting since in a joint statement previously issued during their last meeting in December 2009, the U.S. had already expressed respect for China's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Joseph Wu said.

Senate Taiwan Caucus Resurfaces in Time for Hu Visit
(Foreign Policy, Jan. 14, 2011) The leaders of the Senate Taiwan Caucus are preparing to send a letter to President Obama urging him to make clear to Chinese President Hu Jintao during next week's summit that the United States will continue to sell weapons to Taipei, despite Beijing's complaints.

Gates Reiterates US’ Taiwan Policy
(Taipei Times, Jan. 13, 2011) The US secretary of defense said that Washington does not support Taiwanese independence, but that it does have ‘certain obligations’ under the TRA.

US to Cut Defense Budget and Troops
(Reuters, Jan. 8, 2011) The US plans to cut US$78 billion in defense spending over five years, including a reduction of up to 47,000 troops, in a politically contentious move that would trim the government’s growing budget deficit.

Big Changes Coming to Obama’s Asia Team
(Washington Post, Jan. 5, 2011) Several senior Obama administration Asia officials are scheduled to either leave government or move to new jobs within the bureaucracy in the coming months, as the White House tries to hit the reset button on U.S.-China relations.

China Told Not to Underestimate US
(Taipei Times, Dec. 10, 2010) China must not underestimate the US and its allies, while reinforcing cooperation is the best option, a former US diplomat said at an international forum in Taipei. The Rise of China and Alliance in East Asia: Implications for Diplomatic Truce

US Aims to Deepen Its Trade Ties with Taiwan: AIT Head
(Taipei Times, Dec. 1, 2010) The US aims to deepen trade ties with Taiwan in areas of intellectual property protection, electronic commerce, customs administration and standards and technical barriers to standards, a top US official on Taiwan said.

Cross-Strait Engagement Best Path to Peace: AIT
(Taipei Times, Oct. 30, 2010) Continued engagement is the best guarantee for maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, said William Stanton, director of the Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), in an interview with a local newspaper.

U.S. Supports Taiwan’s ICAO Participation: Official
(CNA, Oct. 8, 2010) The United States expressed explicit support for Taiwan's bid to take part in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) , in which Taiwan is seeking "meaningful participation" as an observer.

Arms Sales Highlight U.S. Foreign Policy Idealism: AIT Head
(CNA, Jul. 10, 2010) Washington's arms sales to Taiwan shows that the United States' foreign policy still upholds idealism over pragmatism, the top U.S. diplomat in Taiwan said in a speech.

US Rules out Taiwan Free Trade Deal
(AFP, Jul. 7, 2010) The United States has ruled out a free trade agreement with Taiwan amid a dispute over beef imports, days after the island signed a sweeping accord with longtime adversary China.

MOFA to Look into Gates’ Use of ‘Oppose’ in Speech
(Taipei Times, Jun. 11, 2010) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would look into a recent comment made by US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that does not appear to be in line with the longstanding US position that it does “not support” Taiwan’s independence. Gates used the word “oppose.”

Taiwan-US FTA Resolution Introduced in Congress
(Taipei Times, May 10, 2010) A new resolution formally calling on US President Barack Obama to move toward a free-trade agreement (FTA) with Taiwan has been introduced into the US Congress.

AIT Welcomes Ma’s CNN Comments
(CNA, May 5, 2010) The United States reacted favorably to President Ma Ying-jeou's recent interview on CNN, while Chinese scholars saw a controversial remark he made as signaling his determination to pursue better ties with China.

Congressmen Support ICAO Observer Status for Taiwan
(Taipei Times, Apr. 24, 2010) A group of US Congressmen are pushing for Taiwan to be awarded “observer status” in the International Civil Aviation Organization.

U.S. Wants Full Local Opening to Beef Imports
(CNA, Mar. 17, 2010) The top U.S. envoy to Taiwan said that the United States is still looking for a full implementation of a beef import deal signed with Taiwan last October.

U.S. Use of ‘Chinese Taipei’ Is Big Warning: Lawmaker
(CNA, Mar. 2, 2010) An opposition lawmaker has demanded that Taiwan's government defend the country's sovereignty by asking the U.S. government for a correction after referring to Taiwan as “Chinese Taipei” for the first time in official usage.

AmCham Calls for Early TIFA Talks
(China Post, Feb. 10, 2010) The American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei has urged the top U.S. official in the next round of trade talks with Taiwan for early scheduling of the bilateral trade negotiations.

AIT Confirms Taiwan Military Plane Refueling in U.S.
(CNA, Jan. 21, 2010) The American Institute in Taiwan confirmed that a Taiwan military aircraft, en route to Haiti on a humanitarian aid mission, was refueling in the United States.

Defense, Beef Ban Unrelated: US Official
(Taipei Times, Jan. 9, 2010) The increasingly fractious beef row between Washington and Taipei will not impact arms sales or other aspects of the bilateral relationship, Assistant US Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific Kurt Campbell said.

US Expert Poses ‘Dramatic Question’ about Taiwan By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Apr. 20, 2012) Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution asked the conference—organized by the National Bureau of Asian Research—to consider if the US needed to “weaken” its defense commitment to Taiwan.

US Experts Say Taiwan a Vital Interest
(Taipei Times, Apr. 19, 2012) US academics emphasized the importance of Taiwan economically and strategically to the US in its rebalancing strategy to return to Asia and said more needed to be done to strengthen bilateral ties.

America’s Place in the New World By Charles A. Kupchan
(New York Times, Apr. 8, 2012) The most potent challenge to America’s dominance comes not from the continuing redistribution of global power, but from a subtler change: the new forms of governance and capitalism being forged by China and other rising nations.

US Has ‘Strengthened’ Relationship with Taiwan: Clinton By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Mar. 9, 2012) “We’ve enhanced our relationships with our treaty allies Japan, [South] Korea, Thailand and the Philippines. We’ve broadened our relationships with other emerging powers, including India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore. We’ve strengthened our unofficial relationship with Taiwan,” Clinton said.

The End of American Intervention By James Traub
(New York Times, Feb. 19, 2012) America is not about to go to war with China, or with anyone else in Asia. The very complicated relationship with China is much less a clash of worldviews than of interests.

Congress and Obama’s China Policy, More Bark than Bite By Robert Sutter (PacNet #5, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Jan. 19, 2012) Conflicting interests in the US advocating or opposing tougher congressional action on China indicate that the overall effect of recent congressional activism will not upset the president’s policies. It will prompt some vocal debate and will impede forward movement in US-China relations.

Why Taiwan’s Future Matters By Su Chi
(New York Times, Jan. 13, 2012) As the 18th-largest economy in the world and a thoroughly democratized nation, Taiwan is still perceived by some in Washington as a potential bargaining chip in crafting a new relationship with China. This is a mistake.

Biden to Oversee PRC File: Report By William Lowther
(Taipei Times, Jan. 4, 2012) US Vice President Joseph Biden will reportedly “take the lead” in the next phase of US policy toward China, which will almost certainly give Biden a major say in future US-Taiwan relations.

US Academic Rejects ‘Ditch Taiwan’ Talk By Shih Hsiu-chuan
(Taipei Times, Dec. 2, 2011) Dismissing a spate of arguments calling for a change in US policy on Taiwan, US academic Shelley Rigger said “we all have too much to lose” if the US withdrew its support for Taiwan, a move that would not benefit China, Taiwan or the US.

Obama Trip Stresses Ties to Economies Across Pacific By Jackie Clames (New York Times, Nov. 12, 2011)  President Obama began an eight-day trip around the Pacific Rim to inaugurate what he hopes will be a new era in which engagement with the fast-growing economies of Asia is paramount.

America’s Pacific Century By Hillary Rodham Clinton
(Remarks at the East-West Center, Honolulu, Nov. 10, 2011) We remain committed to the One-China policy and the preservation of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We have a strong relationship with Taiwan, an important security and economic partner, and we applaud the progress that we have seen in cross-Strait relations between China and Taiwan during the past three years and we look forward to continued improvement so there can be peaceful resolution of their differences.

Taiwan Has Key Role to Play in Future of Asia: US Academic By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Nov.12, 2011) Taiwan is pivotal — not a sideshow — to the future of Asia, a senior academic told a Washington conference.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Rise of China By Bernard K. Gordon (Foreign Affairs, Nov. 7, 2011) Nations of the region need not succumb to the inevitability of a Pacific dominated by China. A Trans-Pacific Partnership composed of Japan, the United States, Australia, and the group’s smaller economies represents a healthier alternative—one that realists would recognize as a step toward a classic balance of power.

U.S.-Taiwan Relations
(Editorial, VOA, Nov. 2, 2011) The foundation of U.S.-Taiwan is common values and a shared belief in democracy.

Pundits Debate If Taiwan Is Defendable By William Lowther
(Taipei Times, Oct. 28, 2011) The forum entitled “Is Taiwan Defendable?” was held in a House of Representatives meeting room, and it was organized by the International Assessment and Strategy Center and attended by congressional aides.

U.S. Pivots Eastward to Address Uneasy Allies By Elisabeth Bumiller (New York Times, Oct. 25, 2011) Mr. Panetta’s message, delivered the day before in Indonesia as well and certain to be repeated later this week when he travels to South Korea, is the new call of the Obama administration as it scrambles to project its power in Asia.

U.S. to Sustain Military Power in the Pacific, Panetta Says By Elisabeth Bumiller (New York Times, Oct. 24, 2011) Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said that despite hundreds of billions of dollars in expected cuts to the Pentagon budget, the United States would remain a Pacific power even as China expanded its military presence in the region.

US Forum Debates Issue of ‘Abandoning’ Taiwan By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Oct. 20, 2011) A Washington conference has been told that a minority view supporting the US’ “abandonment” of Taiwan is getting a lot of attention because there is a growing belief that China’s importance outweighs any affinity or obligation to its Asian ally.

US Academic Suggests US Should Drop ‘Hands-off’ Approach to Cross-Strait Ties (Taipei Times, Oct. 16, 2011) In an article published in the US-based National Interest, Michael Swaine said the US is the only country that can facilitate a Chinese drawdown of its military against Taiwan and instigate genuine movement toward a more stable cross-strait military and political relationship.

America’s Pacific Century By Hillary Clinton
(Foreign Policy, November 2011) The future of politics will be decided in Asia, not Afghanistan or Iraq, and the United States will be right at the center of the action.

Debating the Pacific Century
(Foreign Policy, Oct. 14, 2011) In the November issue of Foreign Policy, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton argues that it’s time for the United States to move on from its costly wars in the Middle East and make a strategic “pivot” to Asia. FP asked four smart observers to take the measure of Clinton’s plans for engagement in the Far East.

Clinton Asia Article Omits Taiwan By William Lowther
(Taipei Times, Oct. 14, 2011) In a long and important commentary on Asia that will appear in the November issue of Foreign Policy journal, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton does not mention Taiwan once.

Panda Mugging By Michael A. Cohen
(Foreign Policy, Oct. 14, 2011) For all the bipartisan panda-mugging going on, it's unclear that the American people are buying it quite yet.

The United States and China: A G-2 in the Making? By Richard C. Bush III (Brookings, Oct. 11, 2011) The record of cooperation so far does not inspire huge confidence that it will broaden and deepen. G-2 is more illusion than reality

America the Overcommitted By Jeremi Suri
(New York Times, Oct. 14, 2011) International stability will require sophisticated American efforts to engage China in ways that serve the interests of both countries. The key is to keep the relationship focused on big issues that are the most uniting, rather than divisive issues like currency valuations and Taiwan.

Senate Jabs China Over Its Currency By Jennifer Steinhauer
(New York Times, Oct. 12, 2011) A bipartisan cross-section of Congress seems to agree that China manipulates its currency in ways that make it harder for many American manufacturers to compete. Where they cannot find alignment is on how best to address that problem.

Sea Change By Ted Galen Carpenter and Robert D. Kaplan
(Foreign Policy, November 2011) The Cato Institute’s Ted Galen Carpenter asks whether the United States can afford the naval confrontation with China envisioned by Robert Kaplan.

Huntsman Warns of “Trade War” with China By Danny Yadron
(Washington Wire, Oct. 10, 2011) Jon Huntsman, the presidential candidate and former Utah governor, said that he opposes placing tariffs on Chinese goods in order to combat perceived currency manipulation.

The US Public Wants Disengagement By Bruce Stokes
(YaleGlobal, Sep. 14, 2011) Downplaying US presidential candidates’ isolationist pronouncements will belie the underlying sea change taking place among American voters, who are turning their backs on the Afghanistan war, on NATO and on engagement with Europe, while gearing up for a confrontation with China.

Strengthen Ties, Sell Jets, Study Urges By William Lowther
(Taipei Times, Sep. 10, 2011) The US should bolster its relationship with Taiwan and sell Taipei the 66 F-16C/D aircraft it has requested, a major new academic study by Nancy Bernkopt Tucker and Bonnie Glaser concludes.

Over the Horizon By James Traub
(Foreign Policy, Sep. 2, 2011) Is it possible that, a decade after 9/11, America has become too preoccupied with the threat from "nonstate actors" and too complacent about the more classic dangers posed by powerful and self-aggrandizing states? Or, put more succinctly, how afraid of China should the United States be?

China, US Needs a Fourth Communique By Pang Guoping
(China Daily, Aug. 31, 2011) It has become necessary for China and the US to sign a fourth joint communiqué to make it binding on the US to comply with the one-China policy, abolish the Taiwan Relations Act and stop selling arms to Taiwan.

Why We Need Taiwan By John F. Copper
(National Interest, Aug. 29, 2011) There are two good arguments to be made for Taiwan’s strategic importance: One comes from looking at the history of the United States. The other from geopolitics.

The US Has To Bring Taiwan in From Cold By Nat Bellocchi
(Taipei Times, Aug. 24, 2011) While the US does need to engage China to encourage it to take a responsible stance toward its neighbors, it should also be emphasized that the US needs to draw clear lines in the sand, so that Beijing fully understands Washington’s position.

Geography Is Not Fate; Taiwan Still Has Options By Nat Bellocchi
(Taipei Times, Aug. 15, 2011) If push comes to shove, I am sure the US will be there for Taiwan, to ensure Taiwanese are free to decide their own future. Taiwan is of strategic importance to the US because it is an anchor for democracy in East Asia.

The KORUS FTA Is a Strategic Imperative By L. Gordon Flake and Troy Stangarone (PacNet #42,Pacific Forum, CSIS, Aug. 4, 2011) An America that cannot resolve its own differences to pass the KORUS FTA would be seen by prospective partners as unable t follow through on its commitments.

Getting Foreign Policy Right By Elbridge Colby
(PacNet #41,Pacific Forum, CSIS, Aug. 4, 2011) The pendulum should not be allowed to swing too far toward an incautious retrenchment. For our problem has not been overseas commitments and interventions as such, but the kinds of interventions.

Taiwan Significant to US, CRS Analysis Shows By William Lowther
(Taipei Times, Aug. 12, 2011) In the era of President Ma Ying-jeou’s“ cross-strait engagement” the analysis says that both Washington and Taipei have “put more efforts into their respective relations with Beijing” than they have put into relations with each other. U.S.-Taiwan Relationship: Overview of Policy Issues

All Eyes on Locke As He Starts New Job By Zhang Wenzong
(China Daily, Aug. 11, 2011) Perhaps the real test for Locke comes in 2012, when the US will hold its general elections. Criticism of the US' current policy on China may be intensified. Handling this will be Locke's test of wisdom as the top US diplomat in China.

America’s Coming Retrenchment By Michael Mandelbaum
(Foreign Affairs, Aug. 9, 2011) The battle to bring deficits under control is bound to be protracted, difficult, and contentious, and one of its casualties will be spending on foreign and security policy, which will decline in the years ahead.

Clinton Urges Asian Nations to Compete Fairly in World Markets By Keith Bradsher (New York Times, Jul. 26, 2011) Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton laid out an American economic agenda in Asia that emphasized broad international agreements over bilateral pacts, part of a wider theme of preserving American involvement in Europe and Asia.

China Policy: Avoiding a Cold War Redux By Brad Glosserman
(PacNet #31, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Jun. 2, 2011) Is Beijing pushing US buttons, forcing it to spend increasingly scare resources on defense assets and diverting them from other more productive uses?

Expert Call for US, China Policy Shift to Avoid War By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Jun. 24, 2011) Experts told a conference in Washington that to avoid war over Taiwan, Beijing and Washington must change their current policies.

Disengaging from Taiwan
(Foreign Affairs, July/August 2011) Should the United States maintain its commitment to Taiwan, or should it consider disengaging in order to accommodate China? Shyu-tu Lee and Douglas Paal both argue that alliance with Taipei remains in Washington's interest. Not so, writes Charles Glaser.

US Seeks to Fund ‘Shadow’ Internet to Defeat Censors
(New York Times, Jun. 13, 2011) The Obama administration is leading a global effort to deploy “shadow” Internet and mobile phone systems that dissidents can use to undermine repressive governments that seek to silence them.

U.S. Won’t Become Isolationist, Gates Tells Worried Asian Leaders By Thom Shanker (New York Times, Jun. 4, 2011) Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates pledged that the United States would sustain its military presence and diplomatic involvement in Asia.

US Needs to Put End to ‘One China’ Confusion By Nat Bellocchi
(Taipei Times, May 29, 2011) If the US wants to review the TRA, it needs to strengthen it in order to be more supportive of Taiwan’s existence as a free democracy.

No Review of U.S. Law on Taiwan Seen Anytime Soon By Phil Stewart (Reuters, May 23, 2011) A top Chinese general says there is interest in Congress in overhauling U.S. policy on arming Taiwan but U.S. lawmakers appear highly unlikely to revise legislation at the core of Sino-U.S. tensions.

China Presses US to Reassess Law on Taiwan Arms Sales By William Ide (VoA, May 22, 2011) During a recent week-long visit to the United States, Chen Bingde, the chief of the general staff of China's People's Liberation Army, or PLA, pressed the United States to end arms to Taiwan.

US-Taiwan Binds Start to Fray By Jens Kastner
(Asia Times, May 20, 2011) Anyone who meets General Chen Bingde, the PLA chief of the general staff, on his week-long visit ending May 22 is certain to hear one thing: Washington must abandon its security commitment to the self-governed island enshrined in the Taiwan Relations Act.

Could US Policy Abandon Taiwan? By John Copper
(Taipei Times, May 11, 2011) Whether Taiwan is a democracy or not and whether its leaders and its population wish to unify with China or remain separate won’t matter. Without US military support, Taiwan will not have a choice.

Shake-Up Could Affect Tone of U.S. Policy on China By Mark Lander (New York Times, Apr. 9, 2011) The Obama administration is about to lose three of its most prominent players on China policy — a shake-up that could reinforce its efforts to cultivate other Asian countries to counterbalance an increasingly assertive Beijing.

Departing U.S. Envoy Criticizes China on Human Rights By David Barboza (New York Times, Apr. 7, 2011) The departing American ambassador, Jon M. Huntsman Jr., criticized China’s human rights record in some of the sharpest public comments by a United States official since the Chinese government began a crackdown on dissent this year.

US Seeks Reduced Cross-Strait Tensions By William Lowther
(Taipei Times, Apr. 2, 2011) Kurt Campbell reiterated Washington’s support for Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act and for greater cross-strait dialogue and economic cooperation.

Steinberg Resigned As US Deputy Secretary of State By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Apr. 2, 2011) US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg has resigned. The move is unlikely to have an immediate impact on US-Taiwan relations at a time when Washington is preoccupied with developments in the Arab world.

Taiwan Still Matters By Will Inboden
(Foreign Policy, Apr. 1, 2011) Many Taiwanese feel uncertain of the White House's commitment to Taiwan's security -- an uncertainty that could possibly undermine their confidence in continuing to improve their relationship with China.

Obama’s Tightrope By Joseph S. Nye
(Project Syndicate, Mar. 13, 2011) Balancing hard-power relations with governments with soft-power support for democracy is like walking a tightrope. The Obama administration has wobbled in this balancing act, but thus far it has not fallen off.

Locke’s Economic Focus Raises Questions for Taiwan By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Mar. 11, 2011) Locke, 61, is primarily interested in increasing US business with Beijing and has very little expertise in what analysts refer to as the “geopolitical dimension of the relationship.”

US Academic Draws Heavy Fire for Article By J. Michael Cole
(Taipei Times, Mar. 8, 2011) Criticism of an article by George Washington University professor Charles Glaser in the current issue of Foreign Affairs magazine was evident, as rebuttals to his article were published in two influential publications.

Rethinking U.S. Foreign Policy towards Taiwan By Daniel Blumenthal (Foreign Policy, Mar. 2, 2011) President Obama has more or less tried Glaser's approach and the result has been a nadir in Sino-U.S. relations and an intensifying Asian arms race. 

Abandon Taiwan: US Academic By J. Michael Cole
(Taipei Times, Mar. 2, 2011) An article in the current issue of the influential Foreign Affairs magazine argues that to avoid military competition between the US and a rising China, Washington should consider making concessions to Beijing, including the possibility of backing away from its commitment to Taiwan.

Defrost the U.S.-Taiwan Relationship By Walter Lohman
(WebMemo #3173, Heritage Foundation, Feb. 28, 2011) Friends of Taiwan are grasping at straws to get movement in the U.S.–Taiwan relationship. Arms sales are the most critical need. It is also necessary to integrate Taiwan into the emerging regional economic order. But virtually anything that could defrost the relationship would be useful, even if it means following the EU’s lead on visa waiver.

F16s a Test of US Support: Academic By William Lowther
(Taipei Times, Feb. 12, 2011) “If we allow the F16 decision to just lapse, to never happen — and there will never be a good time to do it — we are at risk of appearing to downgrade the Taiwan Relations Act and to upgrade the Chinese interpretation of the Third Communique,” former US National Security Council member Michael Green said.

U.S. Military Says Keeps Up with China; Is It Enough? By Phil Stewart (Reuters, Feb. 1, 2011) Looming cost cuts are adding to doubts about the future of American power in the Pacific.

Will Obama’s ‘Sputnik Moment’ Fly? By Don Lee and David Pierson
(LA Times, Jan. 30, 2011) In his State of the Union call to revitalize the economy, President Obama suggested that Americans today face a new "Sputnik moment" — the challenge of another foreign superpower bent on domination.

China Prism Focuses Pentagon Budget on New Weapons By Andrea Shalal-Esa (Reuters, Jan. 25, 2011) China’s test flight of a prototype stealth fighter will help insulate U.S. weapons spending against deeper cuts sought by deficit hawks.

Taiwan Not Briefing US: Glaser By William Lowther
(Taipei Times, Dec. 10, 2010) The US is not being fully informed and briefed by President Ma Ying-jeou and his administration about Taipei’s direct negotiations with Beijing.

US Report Urges Closer Taiwan-US Relationship By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Nov. 18, 2010) In its annual report, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission made a series of recommendations aimed at boosting the Washington-Taipei relationship and pushing the administration of US President Barack Obama to take stronger action on trade issues with China. 2010 Report to Congress of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission

US-Based Analysts Apprehensive Over US-Taiwan Ties By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Oct. 9, 2010) Washington-based China-watchers are becoming increasingly apprehensive over the perceived failure by Taiwan and the US to use the current situation in the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen ties.

Pushing for a Taiwan-US FTA By Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
(Taipei Times, Jul. 16, 2010) Countless ties bind the people and governments of Taiwan and the US. The alliance which has flourished under the Taiwan Relations Act will grow even stronger with a renewed commitment to its principles and to peace and stability in the Western Pacific.

Obama’s National Security Strategy: A Little George Bush, Lots of Bill Clinton By Samuel R. Berger (Washington Post, May 30, 2010) President Obama's national security strategy tackles a delicate but unavoidable question: How do we respond to security challenges in an era of financial distress at home and reordering of political power abroad?

New U.S. Strategy Focuses on Managing Threats By David E. Sanger and Peter Baker (New York Times, May 27, 2010) President Obama’s first formal national security strategy describes a coming era in which the United States will have to learn to live within its limits.

Strengthening People-to-People Relations: The Cornerstone of Taiwan-U.S. Ties By Da-jung Li (The Brookings Institution, May 2010) At the current stage, joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, signing a bilateral extradition agreement, renewing the TIFA talks, resuming visits by U.S. cabinet-level officials, and promoting Taiwan culture in the U.S. are high on Taipei’s agenda.

US Backs Warm Cross-Strait Ties By Dennis V. Hickey
(China Daily, Apr. 29, 2010) Officials at the highest levels of the US government have stressed repeatedly that the US welcomes cross-Straits rapprochement. This is because reconciliation between the two sides of the Straits serves American interests in a myriad of ways.

Paal Proposes APEC Invite for Ma Next Year By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Apr. 23, 2010) Douglas Paal, a former director of the AIT, is proposing that President Ma Ying-jeou be invited to the APEC summit to be hosted by the US in Honolulu in November next year.

US, Taiwan Should Cooperate to Thwart PRC: Expert By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Apr. 22, 2010) A new study by Robert Kaplan — to be printed later this month in Foreign Affairs magazine — concludes that Washington and Taipei should work together to make the prospect of war seem “prohibitively costly” to Beijing.

The 2010 QDR and Asia: Messages for the Region By RADM Michael McDevitt (PacNet #12, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Mar. 23, 2010) The very explicit endorsement of the importance of US military presence in East Asia is a significant signal to Asia that the US has no intention of withdrawing from Asia in the face of growing Chinese military capability.

U.S. Floats Plan to Lift Ban on Training Indonesia’s Kopassus Unit By John Pomfret (Washington Post, Mar. 3, 2010) The Obama administration's move reflects a desire to improve ties with Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia as part of efforts to counter China's rise.

Obama’s East Asia Policy: So Far, So Good By Ralph A. Cossa
(PacNet #5, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Feb. 4, 2010) US relations with the countries of East Asia are as good or better today than when the Obama administration took office just over one year ago.

Taiwan’s Loss of Independence a Threat to US: Expert By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Jan. 27, 2010) Nancy Tucker, an expert on Taiwan at Georgetown University in Washington, said that the US' place in Asia would “never be the same again.”

Gilley’s ‘Finlandization’ Is Wrong By Nat Bellocchi
(Taipei Times, Jan. 18, 2010) Bruce Gilley’s basic thesis is that the present “rapprochement” between Taiwan and China opens the way for the “Finlandization” of Taiwan, and for the US to allow Taiwan to move from the present US strategic orbit towards China’s sphere of influence.

U.S. Faces Long Odds in Improved Relations with Asia By John Pomfret (Washington Post, Jan. 14, 2010) The Obama administration faces tough odds as it seeks to improve the standing of the United States in a vast region that does more trade with America than any other and that is the home to the biggest U.S. airbase outside the United States.

Clinton Tries to Defuse Asian Tension By Mark Landler
(New York Times, Jan. 13, 2010) With tensions rising between the United States and both Japan and China, Asia has emerged as a diplomatic hornet’s nest, even beyond the perennial threat of North Korea.

Clinton, Starting Trip, Acknowledges Possible Tensions with China By Mark Landler (New York Times, Jan. 12, 2010) Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, embarking on her first diplomatic trip of 2010, acknowledged that relations with China may be entering a rough period.

In Search of the Obama Doctrine By Carlos Lozada
(Washington Post, Jan. 3, 2009) Has an Obama Doctrine been found? And if so, is it any good? Judging from a spate of think tank panels, big-think journal articles and magazine essays by conservatives and liberals alike, the reviews are mixed at best.