ABSTRACT
The United States has a long history of political, cultural, and economic ties with China. These ties were strengthened when the dislocations of World War II and the withdrawal of the government of the Republic of China (ROC) to Taiwan forged a strategic alliance between the two countries. On 15 December 1978 President Jimmy Carter announced a major policy shift. Effective from 1 January 1979, the United States would recognize the People's Republic of China (PRC). The Carter administration hoped that formal diplomatic recognition, combined with American investment, technology, and loans, would also give it some leverage over Beijing. The ROC constitution, under which the Taiwan electorate enjoys self-government, choosing local and provincial officials by secret ballot, is now being fully implemented. In the end, the only hope for China is that the principles embodied in both the American constitution and the ideas of Sun Yat-sen will someday transform the whole of that country, not merely the island of Taiwan.
