During the George W. Bush Administration, U.S. and People's Republic of China (PRC) foreign policy calculations have undergone several changes. President Bush assumed office in January 2001 viewing China as a U.S. "strategic competitor." The White House faced an early test in April 2001 when a PRC naval aviation jet collided with a U.S. Navy reconnaissance plane over the South China Sea. But after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, U.S. officials came to see Beijing as a potentially helpful ally in the fight against global terrorism, while PRC officials saw the anti-terrorism campaign as a chance to improve relations with Washington and perhaps gain policy concessions on issues important to Beijing, such as on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. At the same time, the PRC was undergoing a substantial leadership transition to a new generation of younger officials. This, plus the U.S. anti-terrorism agenda, helped lead to a new sense of optimism and stability in the U.S.-China relationship that continued to prevail throughout the 108th Congress.

This report deals with U.S.-China relations during the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and with a number of key events involving China during the two-year period. These events included: Chinas anti-satellite weapon test (January 2007); the 17th Party Congress (October 2007); a crackdown against demonstrations in Tibet (March 2008); the election of a new, pro-engagement government in Taiwan (March 2008); the massive Sichuan earthquake (May 2008); and Beijings hosting of the 2008 Olympics (August 2008). U.S.-China relations were remarkably smooth for much of the 110th, although there were signs that U.S. China policy had become subject to competing reassessments as the Bush Administration drew to a close in 2008. The White House continued to follow the policy of engagement it had unveiled in 2005 as a new framework for the relationship, one in which the United States was willing to work cooperatively with China while encouraging Beijing to become a responsible stakeholder in the global system. U.S. officials also continued to hold a series of regular senior dialogues the White House had established with Beijing, such as the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue. But other U.S. policymakers began to raise concerns on issues involving China and U.S.-China relations. They cited concerns about the ...

This thoughtful volume is the first to evaluate comprehensively the formation and execution of U.S. policy toward China and Taiwan during the crucial twelve years of the Bush and Clinton administrations. Drawing on an unprecedented array of sources, a group of leading international experts explores the increasingly complex environment facing policymakers in the wake of the tragic events of Tiananmen, particularly the growing role played by interest group lobbies, media commentary, and Congress. All these influences combined to dismantle the bipartisan agreement that had supported positive relations with Beijing, replacing it with a more politicized and pluralized policy arena. The authors document how, within this new context, the Bush and Clinton administrations struggled to forge consensus, implement China policies, and maintain a modicum of relations with the PRC. The study focuses systematically on the range of domestic influences, but also considers the less-obvious but vital roles played by European and Asian nations, as well as Taiwan and China itself. Offering novel interpretations based on pathbreaking research, this book will be indispensable for all those interested in understanding the intricacies that influence the delicate relationship between the United States, China, and Taiwan.