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?

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

What is the best way to engage China while deterring aggression? What should Taiwan's America policy be? How can Taiwan break its international isolation? Dr. Tsai Ing-wen, the current Democratic Progressive Party chairwoman and presidential candidate, will address these and other questions at an AEI event on September 13.

Minister Shin-Yuan Lai addressed the unresolved questions centering around the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) signed by Taipei and Beijing.

Withholding needed arms from Taiwan in the present makes a future conflict--and US intervention therein--more likely. A cordial relationship with Beijing today wouldn't seem to be worth the future costs to the United States.

What does it say about China's future direction if it cannot tolerate the existence of a democratically elected government on its borders?

Taiwan doesn't just need upgrades to its existing F-16s; it needs new fighters as well. Quantity and quality are both needed if Taiwan is to have a fighting chance in defending itself or, at least, holding off the Chinese until American help arrives.

Chinese strategists are thinking how to win a nuclear war. What is the U.S. doing?