Congressional Challenges On U.S. Administration’s "One China" Policy During The Clinton Administration

Although it has been35years since China and United States established formaldiplomatic relation,“One China” issue involving mainland China and Taiwan doesnot get resolved yet. From American perspective,“One China” issue does not simplymean there is only one China including mainland China and Taiwan in the world. Itrefers more to Taiwan’s status now and future. U.S. Taiwan policy not only involvesAmerican vested interest, but also links with Sino-American relation. Although U.S.Government itself, in general, has been very careful to seek a subtle balance betweenmainland China and Taiwan guided by its “One China” policy, U.S. Congress, as apowerful law-maker, has been sparing no efforts to edge in and challenge U.S.Government’s Taiwan policy, which has placed government’s “One China” policy indanger many times, especially during the Clinton Administration.This paper makes an investigation on how the rivalry between U.S. Congressand Clinton Administration on government’s “One China” policy went on. The wholepaper is divided into five parts: the first part aims at making clear the origin andconnotations of U.S. Government’s “One China” policy as well as U.S. Congress’sviewpoint for this policy; the following parts closely look at how U.S. Congresschallenged Clinton Administration on three specific aspects of its “One China” policy(U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, U.S.-Taiwan political relation and Taiwan’s internationalspace respectively); and the last part concludes, challenged by U.S. Congress,American Government’s “One China” policy shook greatly in real practice and evenexisted in name only on some issues during that period.