New China lobby: China's encounter with the United States Congress

In Sino-U.S. relations, China has consistently tried to influence those U.S. political branches that are responsible for America's China policy making. However, China had mostly ignored the role of Congress from 1972 to the late 1980s. Why? China had less experience in dealing with Congress than with the executive branch of the United States. China viewed the legislative branch in the west as generally following the executive branch in foreign policy.; Gradually, China began to change, especially after 1989. Congressional debates on China's most favored nation (MFN) status (now normal trade relations (NTR)), and the congress's role in Taiwanese President Li Denghui's successful visit to the United States in 1995 made China think twice about Congress's role of. China has begun to lobby Congress, giving rise to a new “China Lobby.”; The main theme of this thesis centers around the lobbying activities of the Chinese government on Capitol Hill. China has invited members of Congress and Congressional staffs to visit China. China has dispatched buying missions to the United States to influence the attitude of the general public, the mass media, and members of Congress. Chinese diplomats in Washington have diligently worked with members of Congress. China has even hired public relations and lobbying firms in Washington to lobby Congress.; This relatively new development in Sino-U.S. relations has mixed implications on Sino-U.S. bilateral and U.S.-China-Taiwan triangular relations.