ABSTRACT
As China's economy continued its exponential growth, the expanding size and capabilities of the Chinese military became a topic of increasing interest to the United States. The Chinese government's decision to allow a free flow of information about the quake was rewarded with an outpouring of financial support from the international community in response to the crisis. It also confronted with a resurgence of unrest in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). The Ma Ying-jcou administration signaled a commitment to avoiding the sort of provocations that had complicated Taiwan's relations with the United States. Hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing provided China with the most effective opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to cooperation and transparency. The Games were held in Beijing from August 8-24, 2008, and were followed by the 2008 Summer Paralympics. Both the Chinese and the international community have come to view the success of the Games as a measure of China's future on the world stage.
