Reminiscences of Three Decades of U.S.-R.O.C. Relations 1967-1996

Opening
I am so delighted to be back to the Brookings Institution. This visit brings back many
happy memories of my close association with the institution under the brilliant leadership
of Dr. Bruce MacLaury, when I was posted in Washington, DC between 1983-1988. I
would like to avail myself of this wonderful opportunity, thanks to the kind invitation of
the Honorable Richard Bush, to share with you some of the observations I retained during
my long period of service in our government, attempting to improve the United States
and the Republic of China relationship.

Introduction
After the government of the Republic of China moved to Taiwan in 1949, the United
States Government took a wait-and-see attitude, waiting for the dust to settle. When the
Korean War broke out in 1950, the United States began to provide military and economic
aid to the government of the R.O.C. In December 1954 a Mutual Defense Treaty was
signed in Washington, DC, making the two countries allies once again. In the ensuing
years, the U.S. government extended assistance and support in various fields. And, I must
state that we in Taiwan owe a lot of what we received from the United States in those
years.

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