Adopted in 1979, the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) has bound Washington and Taipei together ever since the United States withdrew diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China (ROC). The law requires that the United States provide Taiwan with "defense articles and defense services" necessary for the island's self-defense and that the president of the United States consult with Congress in the event of a threat to Taiwan's security. Over the past twenty years, surging economic growth in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has made it a central cog in the global economy. At the same time, it has engaged in a fast-paced modernization and buildup of its armed forces. China's rise has left Taiwan increasingly isolated and vulnerable to aggression from its much larger neighbor. As U.S.-Chinese relations have warmed, the TRA has ensured that the U.S.-Taiwan relationship does not fall by the wayside. But with new administrations in both Taipei and Washington--and both entrenched in economic crises--Taiwan's future peace and prosperity are less certain.

How effective has the TRA been to date? Will warming relations between Taipei and Beijing erode support for the TRA in Taiwan and the United States? Or will the PRC's military buildup and increasing assertiveness strengthen the U.S.-ROC relationship? Considering current trends, what are the prospects for democracy's future in Taiwan, and how will Taiwan's economy fare in the years ahead? These and other questions will be answered by speakers at this conference.