2012 looks to be an interesting year for the already complex political triangle among the United States, Taiwan and China, what with each country undergoing political transitions. Should we expect policy continuity from President Ma Ying-jeou and the likely new Chinese leader Xi Jinping? What about continuity in the United States?

Moreover, most allies haven't a clue how the pivot will manifest itself and what role they should be playing. If a "pivot" means anything, it is at the least keeping security commitments. Now Obama has made one -- helping Taiwan close the "fighter gap."

Elections in Taiwan are increasingly about which candidate can successfully engage China while protecting Taiwan's status.

Arguments to abandon Taiwan are often based on questionable assumptions and, at times, ignorance of facts. Selling out Taiwan to the Chinese would be detrimental for U.S. strategic and economic interests and devastating for Taiwan’s people.

As persuasive it may be on its face, the case for rethinking US Taiwan policy and, more specifically, withdrawing American security assistance, is overstated. Such a policy change would not serve the interests of the United States, Taiwan, or China; nor would it solve the problems its proponents claim they want to address.

Attempting to get confirmed for a position in an area that already has a legacy of policy decisions can be a tough business—especially when the policy is as flawed as the Obama team's when it comes to Taiwan.

two recent bilateral FTAs pose immediate challenges to Taiwan firms: the EU-Korea FTA and the just completed US-Korea FTA.

Failure to rebalance ties with Taiwan has longer-term consequences, not the least of which is a China that thinks it can call the shots in this key area of the world. (INCLUDES VIDEO)