But the main topics on Lien's agenda were no mystery: East Asia's economic turmoil and Taiwan-China relations.

CNN: Money for Influence?

This (it has to be said, unhelpful) effort by China's critics in Congress to micro-manage America's defence relations with Taiwan has China hopping mad.

ECONOMIST: Impatient China

We think that our policy and the Taiwan Relations Act supports an environment that is conducive to the improved relations across the Taiwan Strait and that at the same time U.S.-China relations will continue to flourish.

WHITEHOUSE: Via Telephone