1. See Alan Romberg, “After the Taiwan Elections: Planning for the Future,” China Leadership Monitor, no. 37, 15, http://www.hoover.org/publications/china-leadership-monitor/article/116021.

2. For more information on the AIT, see Kerry Dumbaugh, Taiwan's Political Status: Historial Background and Ongoing Implications (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, June 4, 2009), 4.

3. See Testimony of Kurt M. Campbell, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee in Why Taiwan Matters, Part II, http://www.state.gov/p/eap/ris/rm/2011/10/174980.htm.

4. The Cairo Declaration was a World War II era accord outlining the disposition of territories “stolen” by Japan—including Manchuria, the Pescadores and Taiwan. The USSR approved it on December 5, 1943, and on July 26, 1945, the leaders of the U.S., R.O.C., and U.K. declared in the Potsdam Proclamation that “the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out.”

5. See “President's News Conference of December 22, 1949,” Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1949, (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1964), 586.

6. See “Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State, January 5, 1950,” in U.S. Department of State, Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Volume 6, (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1976), 259.

7. See Chalmers M. Roberts, “US Suggests 2 Chinas Try Direct Dicussions,” Washington Post, April 29, 1971, A14.

8. The word acknowledge was deliberately chosen as it indicates cognizance of, but not necessarily agreement with, the Chinese position. Interestingly, the PRC versions of the communiqués state that both sides “agree” that there is only one China and that Taiwan is a part of it.

9. See Ching Cheong, “US Taiwan Policy Set 31 Years Ago,” Straits Times, December 20, 2003, in Lexis/Nexis.

10. Shirley Kan, China/Taiwan: Evolution of the ‘One China’ Policy—Key Statements from Washington, Beijing and Taipei, CRS Report for Congress, (Washington, DC: CRS, December 13, 2007), CRS-33.

11. Elaine Sciolino, “Records Dispute Kissinger on his ’71 Visit to China,” New York Times, February 29, 2002, 11.

12. See “A Strategic Framework for the Asian Pacific Rim: Looking Toward the 21^st Century,” in The President's Report on the US Military Presence in East Asia, Hearings Before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, One Hundred First Congress, Second Session, April 19, 1990, p.37.

13. See Shih Hsiu-chuan,”Cables Show US Role in WHO-China MOU,” Taipei Times, September 12, 2011, 1, http://www.taipeitimes.com.

14. See J. Michael Cole, “UN Told to Drop ‘Taiwan is Part of China:’ Cable,” Taipei Times, September 6, 2011, 1, http://www.taipeitimes.com.

15. W.C. Lin and P.C. Tang, “US Cross-Strait Policy Remains Unchanged: State Department,” Central News Agency, October 25, 2004.

16. See “US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Holds Confirmation Hearings on Secretary of State Designate Colin Powell,” Federal Documents Clearing House Political Transcripts, January 17, 2001.

17. See Press Secretary, Office of the White House, U.S.-China Joint Statement, November 17, 2009, http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/us-china-joint-statement

18. “Taiwan Opposition Blasts Obama for ‘Retreat’ on Taiwan's Status,” Taiwan News, November 20, 2009 in BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, November 20, 2009.

19. Frank Ching, “Obama Trip a Boost for China's ‘Core Interests,’” The Business Times (Singapore), December 2, 2009.

20. See, “US: ‘No Position’ on Taiwan's Status is in Fact a Position: AIT Head,” Taiwan News, November 30, 2010, on the world wide web at http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1447458.

21. See Testimony of Kurt M. Campbell, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee in Why Taiwan Matters, Part II, October 4, 2011, http://www.state.gov/p/eap/ris/rm/2011/10/174980.htm.

22. Ibid.

23. Shih Hsiu-chuan, “MOFA to Look into Gates Use of “Oppose” in Speech,” Taipei Times, June 11, 2010, 1, http://www.taipeitimes.com.

24. Shirley Kan, China/Taiwan: Evolution of the ‘One China’ Policy—Key Statements from Washington, Beijing and Taipei, CRS-57.

25. See “US Opposed to Taiwan Independence, Wolfowitz,” China Post, May 31, 2002.

26. Shirley Kan, China/Taiwan: Evolution of the ‘One China’ Policy—Key Statements from Washington, Beijing and Taipei, CRS-74.

27. W.C. Lin and P.C. Tang, “US Cross-Strait Policy Remains Unchanged: State Department,” Central News Agency, October 25, 2004.

28. US Department of Defense, News Transcript: Remarks by Secretary Gates at the Shangri-La Dialogue, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Singapore, June 4, 2010, http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4634

29. Shirley Kan, China/Taiwan: Evolution of the ‘One China’ Policy—Key Statements from Washington, Beijing and Taipei, CRS-69.

30. See Chiayi Ho, “Offer of Talks May Boost Military Ties,” Taiwan Journal, February 27, 2009, 1.

31. In the “Six Assurances,” President Reagan stated: (1) the United States had not set a date for a determination of arms sales to Taiwan; (2) the United States had not agreed to hold prior consultations with the PRC about arms sales to Taiwan; (3) the United States would not play a mediating role between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland; (4) the United States has not agreed to alter the TRA; (5) the United States had not altered its position on sovereignty over Taiwan and (6) the United States will not pressure Taipei into negotiations with Beijing.

32. See Remarks by Secretary Hagel at the IISS Asia Security Summit, Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, News Transcript, US Department of Defense, June 1, 2013, http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=5251.

33. William Lowther, “Pentagon Wary of PRC-Taiwan Ties,” Taipei Times, January 7, 2009, 1 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/01/07/2003433112/print.

34. See Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Jimmy Carter, 1979, Book I (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1980), 257.

35. See David E. Sanger, “US Would Defend Taiwan, Bush Says,” New York Times, April 26, 2011, A1.

36. For example, in April 2004, Peter Rodman, then U.S. assistant secretary of defense for International Security Affairs, explained, “I read the president's remarks of three years ago [2001] as a reaffirmation of the TRA. The TRA leaves certain things unexplicit, leaves a certain ambiguity [emphasis added]. See”Testimony of Peter Rodman, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, in Taiwan Relations Act, Hearing of the House International Relations Committee, April 21, 2004, Federal News Service. Several months later, Richard Armitage, then U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, concurred that “we are not required to defend [Taiwan].” See Shirley Kan, China/Taiwan: Evolution of the ‘One China’ Policy—Key Statements from Washington, Beijing and Taipei, CRS-81.

37. See Dennis V. Hickey, United States-Taiwan Security Ties: From Cold War to Beyond Containment, 31.

38. Shirley Kan, China/Taiwan: Evolution of the ‘One China’ Policy—Key Statements from Washington, Beijing and Taipei, CRS-45.

39. One stated that the United States had not agreed to set a date to end U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, while the other promised that Washington would not hold prior consultations with Beijing on arms sales to Taipei.

40. See William Lowther, “F-16 Sale Subject to PRC sensitivities: Gates,” Taipei Times, June 4, 2011, 1 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2011/06/04/2003504919. Also see William Lowther, “Panetta's Praise of PRC Raises Concern,” Taipei Times, October 27, 2011, 1, www.taipeitimes.com.

41. See Testimony of Kurt M. Campbell, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee in Why Taiwan Matters, Part II, October 4, 2011, http://www.state.gov/p/eap/ris/rm/2011/10/174980.htm.

42. William Lowther, “US has ‘strengthened’ relationship with Taiwan: Clinton,” Taipei Times, March 9, 2012, http://www.Taipeitimes.com.

43. See William Lowther, “Taiwan Still a Top Buyer of US Arms,” Taipei Times, December 22, 2011, 2, http://www.Taipeitimes.com.

44. Author's interview with Dr. Andrew Yang, ROC Deputy Minister of National Defense, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China, December 24, 2012.

45. For more information on these and other developments, see Shirley A. Kan, Taiwan: Major Arms Sales Since 1990 (Washington DC: Congressional Research Service, March 7, 2012), 3–6.

46. See Wendell Minnick, “Spook Mountain: How the US Spies on China,” Asia Times, March 6, 2003 http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/EC06Ad03.html.

47. See J. Michael Cole, “New Radar Tracks North Korea Rocket: MND,” Taipei Times, December 13, 2012, http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/12/13/2003550023/1.

48. Bill Owens, “America Must Start Treating China as A Friend, Financial Times, November 17, 2009, http://www.ft.com.

49. Ibid.

50. Ibid.

51. See prepared statement of Professor June Teufel Dreyer in Why Taiwan Matters, Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, June 16, 2011 (Washington, D.C.: US Government Printing Office, 2011), 56, http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/

52. Charles Glaser, “Will China's Rise Lead to War? Why Realism Does Not Mean Pessimism,” Foreign Affairs, March/April, 2011, 81.

53. Ibid., 85.

54. Ibid., 86.

55. Ibid.

56. Ibid.

57. Ibid.

58. Miller Center of Public Affairs, A Way Ahead With China, Steering the Right Course with the Middle Kingdom, (Richmond: University of Virginia, 2011), 24, http://millercenter.org/policy/chinaroundtable.

59. Ibid.

60. Ted Galen Carpenter, “The Ticking Taiwan Time Bomb,” The Natioal Interest, April 20, 2011, http://nationalinterest.org.

61. Ibid.

62. Ibid.

63. Ibid.

64. Chas W. Freeman, Jr. Beijing, Washington, and the Shifting Balance of Prestige, Remarks to the China Maritime Studies Institute, Newport, Rhode Island, May 10, 2011.

65. Ibid.

66. Ibid.

67. Ibid.

68. Ironically, with its consulates scattered throughout the country, tiny Taiwan enjoys a larger diplomatic presence in the United States than the Chinese mainland.

69. See William Lowther, “Experts Call for US, China Policy Shift to Avoid War,” Taipei Times, June 24, 2011, 3, http://www.taipeitimes.com.

70. See Nat Bellocchi, “US Needs to Put End to ‘One China” Confusion,” Taipei Times, May 29, 2011, 8, http://www.taipeitimes.com.

71. See “The US Needs to Reassess its Position,” Taiwan Communiqué, Number 130, November/December 2010, 5.

72. For more information see, Jay Chou and Kendra Lin, “US Congressmen Renew Call for US to End One China Policy,” Central News Agency, May 10, 2012, http://www.taiwanembassy.org/US/MIA/fp.asp?xItem=277276&ctNode=2884&mp=57

73. For more information, see “House Members Urge Resumption of Diplomatic Ties,” Taiwan Communiqué, Number, 141, April/May 2013, 16.

74. See, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee News, September 14, 2011, http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press_display.asp?id=1972.

75. Ibid.

76. See William Lowther, “US House Subcommittee Unanimously Passes Taiwan Policy Act, Ma Warned,” Taipei Times, April 27, 2013, 1, http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/04/27/2003560820

77. For an example of the pressure exerted to approve the sale and the reasons for such a sale, please see Carl Ford, Why Taiwan's Navy Needs Aegis Destroyers Now, Taiwan Research Institute, December 1999, http://www.fas.org/news/taiwan/1999/991200-taiwan-aegis.htm.

78. Andrew Jacobs, “Arms Sale Draws Angry, But Familiar, Reaction,” New York Times, September 22, 2011, 1, http://www.nytimes.com.

79. See William Lowther, “Taiwan Spending on US Lobbyists to Push F-16 C/D Sale,” Taipei Times, October 13, 2011,1, www.taipeitimes.com.

80. See Eli Clifton, “The Secret Foreign Donor Behind the American Enterprise Institute,” The Nation, June 25, 2013, http://www.thenation.com/article/174980/secret-foreign-donor-behind-american-enterprise-institute#axzz2Z2bgwWBr.

81. See Testimony of Kurt M. Campbell, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee in Why Taiwan Matters, Part II, October 4, 2011, http://www.state.gov/p/eap/ris/rm/2011/10/174980.htm.

82. See William Lowther, “Taiwan to Receive US Arms Package.” Taipei Times, September 23, 2011, 1, www.taipeitimes.com.

83. Nancy Bernkopf Tucker and Bonnie Glaser, “Should the US Abandon Taiwan?” Washington Quarterly, Fall 2011, 24.

84. See Ibid., 34

85. Walter Lohman and Rupert Hammond-Chambers, “Shore Up US-Taiwan Relations Now as Two-China Tensions Have Abated,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, October 6, 2010, http://www.heritage.org.

86. Ibid.

87. See William Lowther, “US-Taiwan FTA Moving Up List,” Taipei Times, January 28, 2011, 3, www.taipeitimes.com.

88. See testimony of Nancy Bernkopf Tucker in Why Taiwan Matters, Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, June 16, 2011 (Washington, D.C.: US Government Printing Office, 2011), 61, http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/.

89. See questioning by Representative Gerald E. Connolly (D.-Virginia) in Ibid.

90. Shih Hsiu-Chuan, “Abandoning Taiwan is ‘Unthinkable,” Ex-Obama Administration Official Says,” Taipei Times, March 28, 2012, www.taipeitimes.com.

91. William Ide, “China Presses US to Reassess Law on Taiwan Arms Sales,” VOA News.com, May 22, 2011, http://www.voanews.com.

92. See Andrew Jacobs, “Arms Sale Draws Angry, But Familiar, Reaction,” New York Times, September 22, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com.

93. See Pang Guoping, “China, US Need A Fourth Communiqué, China Daily, August 31, 2011, 9, http://www.chinadaily.com.cn.

94. See Nat Bellocchi, “US Needs to Put End to ‘One China” Confusion,” Taipei Times, May 29, 2011, 8, http://www.taipeitimes.com.

95. See Ibid.

96. See “US Congressman Urges ‘Tough’ China Policy to Support Taiwan,” AFX News Limited, March 19, 2000.

97. See Abram N. Shulsky, Deterrence Theory and Chinese Behavior (Santa Monica, CA: Rand Corporation, 2000), 51.

98. Office of the Secretary of Defense, Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the PRC (Washington DC: US Department of Defense, 2010), 1, http://www.defense.gov/pubs/pdfs/2010_CMPR_final.pdf

99. See Gerrit van der Wees, “A Lose-Lose Proposition,” Taiwan Communiqué, September/October, 2011, 4.

100. Testimony of Representative James A.Leach (R.-Iowa) I China's Anti-Secession Law and Developments Across the Taiwan Strait.

101. Testimony of Representative James A.Leach (R.-Iowa) I China's Anti-Secession Law and Developments Across the Taiwan Strait, Hearing of the Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee, April 6, 2005, Federal News Service.

102. See Steve Tsang (editor), Taiwan and the International Community (Oxford: Peter Lang Publishers, 2008), 96.

103. Shirley Kan and Wayne M. Morrison, US-Taiwan Relationship: Overview of Policy Issues (Washington, D.C: Congressional Research Service, August 4, 2011), 4.

104. See “US Congratulates Taiwan's Ma,” ChannelNewsAsia,.com, January 15, 2012, http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1176829/1/.html.

105. “AIT Stresses Taiwan's ‘undoubted Importance to US” China Post, March 12, 2012, http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/foreign-affairs/2012/03/12/334339/AIT-stresses.htm.

106. Ibid.

107. Critics are correct to observe that China pursues its own national interests in the international community. It is not an American surrogate or puppet, and it will not suddenly begin to promote American interests if the US decides to “abandon” Taiwan. At the same time, however, Beijing could create a lot of mischief and/or jeopardize American interests should Washington radically upgrade ties with Taipei.

108. Peter Enav, “Analysis: US ‘No’ on Arms Sale Seen as Sign of China's Clout,” Taipei Times, September 24, 2011, 3.

109. Ibid.

110. See “Obama: ‘We Welcome China's Rise,’” CBS News Political Hotsheet, January 19, 2011, http://www.cbsnews.com/8301–503544_162–20028958–503544.html.

111. Mark Landler, “Taiwan Gets Upgrade, but No New Fighter Jets; Trying to Avoid Rift with China, US Offers to Refurbish but Won't Sell,” International Herald Tribune, September 20, 2011.

112. See Richard Bush, “Upgrading Taiwan's Defense,” Los Angeles Times, October 19, 2011, www.latimes.com.