Reminisces about the Making of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA)

After President Jimmy Carter took office, ROC Ambassador James Shen sensed the storm forthcoming that would cause the withdrawal of U.S. recognition of the ROC/Taiwan. In response, he assembled a small team of advisors among Chinese-American academics to advise him on how to minimize the damage to Taiwan from the impending disaster. He solicited their views on what ideas or damagelimiting measures that should be transmitted to those members of Congress who were known for their friendly sentiments and goodwill toward Taiwan. This article presents the observations of one of the participants about this traumatic process.