ABSTRACT
The Kennedy and Johnson administrations protected the ROC's international interests, but found Chiang's insular views frustrating. Anti-communist Richard Nixon told Chiang Ching-kuo he would not sell the ROC down the river and then proceeded to do just that in pursuing his opening to the PRC. Franklin Roosevelt decided in 1942 on the return of the island to the ROC in the service of an ambitious strategic vision, but disagreed with Chiang Kai-shek on the conduct of the war against Japan. Ma Ying-jeou's election in March 2008 was generally viewed positively in the United States. Both the Bush administration and candidate Barack Obama expressed the hope that Ma's policies would bring about more peaceful and stable cross-Strait relations. Many elements of US power come into play whether the United States will be prepared to include Taiwan in initiatives like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and so give Taipei a greater incentive to pursue economic liberalization with all major trading partners, not just China.
