All Publications by Alan D. Romberg

• Presidential Inbox 2013:  Find the Right Balance in Asia Policy

  The Presidential Inbox series gives Stimson experts a chance to offer their views on key international security challenges and pragmatic steps the Obama Administration can take to

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• Across the Taiwan Strait: From Confrontation to Cooperation, 2006–2012

  The East Asia-China program has published a three-volume set of Director and Senior Associate Alan Romberg’s writings on cross-Strait relations over the past six years. Originally

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• Alan D. Romberg Comments on the Diaoyutai/ Senkaku Islands Dispute

  Tensions have flared on both sides of the East China Sea, since the Japanese central government announced its purchase of the Diaoyutai/Senkaku Islands in early September. 

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• Understanding North Korea’s Failed Launch

  North Korea's unsuccessful missile launch is an enormous embarrassment for the newly installed regime of Kim Jong Un. Surely the military officers and others responsible for the

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• After the Taiwan Election: Planning for the Future

  Alan D. Romberg has published a new essay, “After the Taiwan Elections, Planning for the Future,” which appears in the current issue of China Leadership Monitor.

  With a stronger than

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• Krepon and Romberg on North Korea’s Planned Satellite Launch

  The "leap day" agreement between the DPRK and the Obama administration may not last more than one month if Pyongyang follows through with its announced plans to place a satellite in

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• Taiwan Elections Head to the Finish: Concerns, Cautions, and Challenges

  “Taiwan Elections Head to the Finish: Concerns, Cautions, and Challenges” appears in the current issue of the China Leadership Monitor by Alan D. Romberg, Distinguished Fellow and

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• Regional Implications and the Passing of Kim Jong-Il

  Kim Jong-Il’s passing is untimely in the sense that his son and designated successor, Kim Jong-Un, is clearly not ready to take the reins of power. Still, one assumes that the

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• The 2012 Taiwan Election: Off and Running

  “The 2012 Taiwan Election: Off and Running” appears in the current issue of the China Leadership Monitor by Alan D. Romberg, Distinguished Fellow and Director of the East Asia

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• Alan Romberg comments on the future of U.S.-Taiwan relations

  Alan Romberg shared his insight into U.S.-Taiwan Relations with Taiwan’s Central News Agency in Chinese. Click here to read the original interview.

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• Article by Alan Romberg in China Leadership Monitor 34

  Cross-Strait Relations: Setting the Stage for 2012

  Various developments throughout the latter half of 2010 and the early
  weeks of 2011 began to set the stage for changes in both

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• Alan Romberg on Hu Jintao’s US Visit

  Distinguished Fellow Alan Romberg discusses President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States and its implications for the future of US-Chinese relations. Listen to his interview

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• Alan Romberg’s presentation at the 6th Hankyoreh-Busan International Symposium

  INTRODUCTION

  From the time it took office in January 2009, the Obama Administration adopted a new point of departure for policy in Northeast Asia. It had two important

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• Managing the Cross Strait Issue

  By Alan Romberg

  This paper was prepared for a Track II dialogue on reducing strategic mistrust between the United States and China sponsored by the National Committee on American

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• Alan D. Romberg comments on ECFA, the cross-strait economic agreement

  Alan D. Romberg comments on ECFA, the cross-strait economic agreement for Focus Taiwan News Channel.

  Read the article here.

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• Ma at Mid-Term: Challenges for Cross-Strait Relations

  Ma at Mid-Term: Challenges for Cross-Strait Relations

  by Alan D. Romberg

  In his inaugural address in May 2008, Ma Ying-jeou laid out a vision for cross-Strait relations that was at

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• “All Economics is Political: ECFA Front and Center ”

  “All Economics is Political: ECFA Front and Center ” is a new essay by Distinguished Fellow Alan D. Romberg from Issue 32 of the China Leadership Monitor

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• “2010: The Winter of PRC Discontent”

  “2010: The Winter of PRC Discontent” is a new essay by Distinguished Fellow Alan D. Romberg from Issue 31 of the China Leadership Monitor.

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• US Arms Sales to Taiwan – Beijing Reacts Sharply

  On January 29, the Obama Administration announced plans to sell Taiwan approximately $6.4 billion worth of arms. This rounds out much of the pending package the Bush Administration

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• Interview in CNA with Stimson Distinguished Fellow Alan D. Romberg on US Arms Sales to Taiwan

  In this interview with Central News Agency, Stimson Distinguished Fellow Alan D. Romberg discusses US arms sales to Taiwan (available in Chinese only).

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• “Cross-Strait Relations: Weathering the Storm”

  “Cross-Strait Relations: Weathering the Storm” is a new essay by Distinguished Fellow Alan D. Romberg that will be printed in Issue 30 of the China Leadership Monitor.

   

   PDF

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• Alan D. Romberg: Obama’s First Trip to China Will Highlight his China Policy

  In this interview from the Central News Agency (Taiwan) Alan D. Romberg discusses President Obama’s first trip to China and how the administration is framing its China

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• North Korea’s Second Nuclear Test: A Test also for China and the United States

  Following through on its official threat in the wake of UNSC condemnation of its missile launch in early April, Pyongyang detonated its second nuclear test on May 25. It has also

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• Alan D. Romberg Comments on Ma Ying-jeou’s First Year in Office (Available in Chinese only)

  

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• Alan D. Romberg: Taiwan Entry in the WHA - A step in the Right direction.

  Appeared in the World Journal (San Francisco) on April 30, 2009.

  

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• Alan D. Romberg: Taiwan Attendance at the WHA Demonstrates Cross-Strait Originality and Flexibility

  Central News Agency (Taiwan), April 29, 2009.

  

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• The Three Agreements Reached at the Third Chiang-Chen Meeting Deepen Cross-Strait Relations

  Published by the Central News Agency of Taiwan

  

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• Remarks to Conference on the Impact of Deteriorating North-South Relations on Six-Party Process

  Sponsored by USKI, CSIS, and USIP

  Alan D. Romberg

  The Henry L. Stimson Center

  April 16, 2009

  One is tempted to begin—and perhaps end—remarks on this topic by asking “What

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• US-Taiwan Relations: Looking Forward

  Presentation at CSIS conference on

  US-Taiwan Relations in a New Era: Looking Forward 30 Years after the Taiwan Relations Act

   

  By Alan Romberg

  Distinguished Fellow and Director,

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• Cross-Strait Relations: First the Easy, Now the Hard

  April 2009
  

  
  

  After two rounds of renewed cross-Strait dialogue in 2008, PRC President Hu Jintao took the initiative at the end of the year to put forward an ambitious agenda for

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• “Cross-Strait Moderation and the United States”

  Richard Bush and Alan D. Romberg comment on a recent article by Professor Robert Sutter about the changes occurring between the PRC and Taiwan and the implications for United

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• “Cross-Strait Relations: “Ascend the Heights and Take a Long-term Perspective”

  To put it in Dickensian terms, the recent period has seen both the best of times and the worst of times for Taiwan. Significant progress has been made on many aspects of

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• Rethinking Northeast Asia

  The Challenge

  Simultaneously nurturing bilateral relations with a rising China while reinvigorating relations with Japan and Korea—key American allies in Northeast Asia—will be a

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• Alan Romberg: Obama’s Taking Office Will Benefit the Steady Development of U.S.-Taiwan Relations

  Published by the Central News Agency of Taiwan

  

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• American Scholar: President Ma’s Low Key Transit Shows the Sincerity of His Effort to Rebuild Trus

  Published by the Central News Agency of Taiwan

  

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• Taiwan: Opportunities and Challenges

  Alan D. Romberg, Distinguished Fellow and Director of the East Asia Program, gave a keynote address in the CLSA China Forum in Shanghai on May 15, 2008. 

   

  For CLSA’s summary and

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• Cross-Strait Relations: First the Easy Steps, Then the Difficult Ones

  “Cross-Strait Relations: First the Easy Steps, Then the Difficult Ones” by Alan D. Romberg appears in China Leadership Monitor, No. 26, Fall 2008. China Leadership Monitor is

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• After the Taiwan Election: Restoring Dialogue while Reserving Options

  “After the Taiwan Election: Restoring Dialogue while Reserving Options” by Alan D. Romberg appears in China Leadership Monitor, No. 25, Summer 2008. China Leadership Monitor is

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• Taiwan: George Bush meet Abba Eban

  Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan’s new leader, is committed to lowering tensions with Beijing, a long-standing US objective. But his success requires strong domestic consensus, which, in turn,

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• Alan Romberg Urges Beijing to Adopt Creative Measures to Improve Cross-Strait Relations

  Alan D. Romberg, Distinguished Fellow and Director of the East Asia Program at the Henry L. Stimson Center in Washington, D.C., gave a presentation for the Brookings seminar

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• Alan Romberg: Election Victor Must Heal Societal Rifts

  Alan D. Romberg, Distinguished Fellow and Director of the East Asia Program at the Henry L. Stimson Center in Washington, D.C., discusses with Jorge Liu of the Central News Agency of

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• Taiwan Elections: Foundation for the Future

  “Taiwan Elections: Foundation for the Future” by Alan D. Romberg appears in China Leadership Monitor, No. 24, Spring 2008. China Leadership Monitor is sponsored by the Hoover

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• Shifting Political Currents in Taiwan

  The Kuomintang’s blowout victory in legislative elections foreshadows significant transformation of Taiwan politics.  But KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou has wisely

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• Shifting Political Currents in Taiwan

  The Kuomintang's blowout victory in legislative elections foreshadows significant transformation of Taiwan politics.  But KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou has wisely

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• Cross-Strait Relations: In Search of Peace

  “Cross-Strait Relations: In Search of Peace” by Alan D. Romberg appears in China Leadership Monitor, No. 23, Winter 2008. China Leadership Monitor is sponsored by the Hoover

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• The Role of the United States in Northeast Asia in the Wake of the North Korean Nuclear Test

  This paper was presented at the conference ““The North Korean Nuclear Test and the Future of Northeast Asia” hosted by the Asia Foundation on December 4, 2006.
  
  In the most

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• Future Cross-Strait Relations and a Possible Modus Vivendi

  A paper presented at the Foundation for International and Cross-Strait Studies-Brookings Institution Conference on Washington-Taipei-Beijing Relations: Variables &

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• PacNet 45 - The U.S. “One China” Policy: Time for a Change?

  This article appeared in November’s PacNet 45 by the CSIS Pacific Forum.  It is based on Alan Romberg’s speech at the 16th Annual Charles Neuhauser Memorial Lecture at the John K.

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• Applying to the UN “in the name of ‘Taiwan’”

   "Playing politics” to win votes is pretty normal fare. In the case of Taiwan, however, “playing politics” can sometimes be akin to playing with fire. The decision of Taiwan’s two

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• The U.S. “One China” Policy: Time for a Change?

  This is the text of the 16^th Annual Charles Neuhauser Memorial Lecture at the John K. Fairbank Center of Harvard University on October 24, 2007.  

  Introduction

   

  When I told my

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• Next Steps on North Korea: Options Beyond Sanctions

  Discussion with Alan D. Romberg, Michael Swaine, and Randall Schriver

  On October 12, 2006, the Henry L. Stimson Center partnered with the Carnegie Endowment for International

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• Six-Party Agreement and the North-South Summit: An Opening for Korea?

  This week’s Six-Party “Second Phase” agreement and North-South Eight-Point Agreement create considerable hope for the future of the Korean Peninsula.  Faithful implementation, of

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• Applying to the UN “in the name of ‘Taiwan’”

  “Applying to the UN “in the name of ‘Taiwan’”” by Alan D. Romberg appears in China Leadership Monitor, No. 22, Fall 2007. China Leadership Monitor is sponsored by the Hoover

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• Election 2008 and the Future of Cross-Strait Relations

  “Election 2008 and the Future of Cross-Strait Relations” by Alan D. Romberg appears in China Leadership Monitor, No. 21, Summer 2007. China Leadership Monitor is sponsored by the

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• Future East Asian Security Architecture: Implications for the PLA

  Alan D. Romberg contributed the following analysis as chapter twelve of “Assessing the Threat”, a book published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

   

  “Security

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• U.S. Strategic Interests in Northeast Asia: 2009 and Beyond

  Alan D. Romberg takes a look at key U.S. regional relationships in Northeast Asia. This analysis is based on a paper he presented at the Korea Research Institute for Strategy

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• North Korea: So If the Banking Issue Is Resolved, What’s Next?

  Reports from Seoul, Moscow and Washington indicate that a way has been found to transfer $25 million of North Korean funds from the tainted Macau Banco Delta Asia (BDA) to a DPRK

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• George Bush and Northeast Asia: Anticipating the Final Two Years

  After 9/11, many observers depicted the Bush administration as simply ignoring Northeast Asia. The emphasis on alliances announced at the start of the term was seen as totally

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• A New Taiwan Representative Will Arrive in Washington, But Taiwan Needs to Prioritize Its Relations

  Alan D. Romberg, Senior Associate and Director of the East Asia Program at the Henry L. Stimson Center in Washington, D.C., discusses with Jorge Liu of the Central News Agency of

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• Chen Shui-bian’s “Four Wants, One is Not” Statement May Provoke Washington

  Alan D. Romberg, Senior Associate and Director of the East Asia Program at the Henry L. Stimson Center in Washington, D.C., was interviewed on 6 March 2007 by Jorge Liu of the

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• Politicians Jockey for Position in Taiwan’s 2007–2008 Elections, While Japan Jockeys for Positio

   

   

  “Politicians Jockey for Position in Taiwan’s 2007-2008 Elections, While Japan Jockeys for Position Across the Strait” by Alan D. Romberg is in the China Leadership Monitor,

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• Negotiating with North Korea: Bridging the Differences Among the Key Parties

  Recent agreement at the Six Party Talks on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is widely acknowledged as a stopgap, first step. It was made possible by a combination of

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• Taiwan Popular Opinion is More Important than Party Standing in KMT Chair Ma Ying-jeou’s Future

   

  Alan D. Romberg, Senior Associate and Progam Director of the Henry L. Stimson Center’s East Asia Program, was interviewed on 14 February 2007 by Jorge Liu of Taiwan’s Central

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• Taiwan: All Politics, All the Time

  “Taiwan: All Politics, All the Time” by Alan D. Romberg is in the China Leadership Monitor, No. 19, Fall 2006. The China Leadership Monitor is sponsored by the Hoover Institution on

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• Permanent Peace on the Korean Peninsula: Quixotic Quest or Source of Stability?

   

  This article was published in Korea and World Affairs Vol. 30, No.Fall 2006). Korea and World Affairs is published by the Research Center for Peace and Unification of Korea,

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• Recent Developments in Taiwan: Politics in Command—But at What Cost?

   

  Recent Developments in Taiwan: Politics in Command—But at What Cost?
  

  Alan D. Romberg
  
  This article originally appeared on PacNet Newsletter published by Pacific Forum/CSIS on

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• The East Asia Summit: Much Ado About Nothing—So Far

   

  This essay originally appeared in December 2005 issue of Freeman Report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC as a featured essay.

   

  The United

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• Maintaining momentum with North Korea

  This commentary appeared originally in PacNet Newsletter on September 8, 2005.

  Pyongyang’s two-week postponement of the Six-Party Talks may have been designed simply to

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• The 4th Round of Six-Party Talks: Negotiating for Success

   

  This commentary originally appeared in PacNet Newsletter on July 21, 2005.

  As we look to the resumption of the Six-Party Talks July 26, press reports indicate the U.S. sees

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• The Perspectives from Beijing

  Alan D. Romberg gave this presentation at a roundtable discussion at the Atlantic Council entitled “The Japan Factor in Cross-Strait Relations” on April 22, 2005. 

  The dramatic

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• Promoting Cross-Strait Stability: Avoiding Catastrophe

  In this op-ed piece that appeared in CSIS PacNet Newsletter, Alan D. Romberg argues that the anti-secession law to be passed by National People’s Congress of China could seriously

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• Cross-Strait Relations: Avoiding War, Managing Peace

   

  In this occasional paper for the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies in Taipei, Alan D. Romberg discuss the developments in the cross-Strait relations in the aftermath of

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• Political and Strategic Implications for China’s Growth

   

  On September 10 2004, a conference paper Political and Strategic Implications for China’s Growth, written by Alan D. Romberg, was delivered on his behalf at the conference

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• US Policy After the Taiwan Election: Divining the Future

   

  This is an address given by Alan D. Romberg at the SAIS China Forum on March 10, 2004.

  The coming election in Taiwan could constitute an important turning point for the future

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• Support Taiwan Democracy, Not Referendums

   

  In this opinion piece that originally appeared CSIS PacNet Newsletter and then was reprinted in The Asia Times, Alan D. Romberg discusses recent developments in Taiwan and US

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• Six-Party Talk, Round Two: In Search of a US Policy

  In this short op-ed piece, Alan D. Romberg discusses how the United States policy should be crafted toward the six-party talk concerning the North Korea nuclear problem.  Romberg

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• Q: Will President Bush’s stance on Taiwan undermine democracy in East Asia?

  No: Bush rightly rebuked Taiwan for recklessly tilting toward independence

   

  In this excerpt taken from the January 19, 2004 edition of Insight on the News,  Alan Romberg discusses

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• The US-PRC-ROK Triangle: Managing the Future

  This report was published in January 2004 by the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security as part of a three-volume series entitled Coping with Korea’s Security Challenges.
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• Resolving the North Korean Nuclear Issue and Bringing Peace to the Peninsula: An Appraisal of U.S.

   

  November 2003

  In this article, Alan Romberg discusses American attitudes and policies toward the North Korean nuclear issue, toward long-term Peninsula stability, and how they

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• Rein In at the Brink of the Precipice: American Policy Toward Taiwan and U.S.-PRC Relations

  While America and China were drawn together thirty-five years ago by shared strategic imperatives, the Taiwan issue still stood as the paramount obstacle to full diplomatic

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• Dealing with North Korea: The Key Foreign Policy and Security Challenge for the U.S.-ROK Alliance

   

  Occasional Paper 49

  by Alan D. Romberg

  This paper was published by Alan Romberg in preparation for the New Strategy Institute of Korea Colloquium on “Korea-U.S. Alliance:

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• The North Korea Nuclear Crisis: A Strategy for Negotiations

   

  by Alan D. Romberg and Michael Swaine

  For the United States, any negotiating strategy must aim to achieve the complete, verifiable abandonment by North Korea of its nuclear

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• North Korean Threat Spirals Toward Disaster

   

  by Alan D. Romberg and Michael D. Swaine
  Originally published in the International Herald Tribune on March 27, 2003.
  
  A Greater Danger

  WASHINGTON  While the world’s attention is

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• China and Missile Defense: Managing US-PRC Strategic Relations

  As the United States has considered options for a missile defense system, it was natural enough to focus first on gaining the acquiescence of Russia, its ABM Treaty partner. But the

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• New Angles on Iraq: Views of the Stimson Center’s Experts

  The Henry L. Stimson Center presents a collection of short essays on various aspects of the Iraq policy challenge prepared by our experts. We have drawn on the Center’s distinct

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• Taiwan and U.S. Policy: The Diplomatic Dimension

   

  We are asked to address the key political and diplomatic factors in political and security relations among the U.S., Taiwan and the PRC and why those factors are important; what

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• Some Thoughts on Cross-Strait Relations

   

  In this analysis on relations between the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan, Alan Romberg argues that both sides of the Strait are focusing on creating stronger economic

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• Addressing the Taiwan Question: The U.S. Role

   

  With regards to U.S. policy towards the Taiwan Strait, Alan Romberg argues that the important point is to determine U.S. interests and to be consistent.  That consistency may

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• Taking Exception to a U.S.-PRC “Fourth Communiqué”

  In this paper, Alan Romberg agrees that there are problems in the U.S.-PRC relationship. He disagrees, however, with suggestions that the United States and the PRC should negotiate a

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• Taiwan in US-PRC Relations: A Strategic Perspective

   

  As George W. Bush campaigned for the presidency during the year 2000, and as he settled into office in the first months of 2001, he and his team sought to distinguish themselves

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• Taiwan and U.S.-PRC Relations

   

  There is a well-known history of enmity and even war between the United States and China in the decades immediately following the establishment of the People’s Republic of

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