If Congress truly has the best interest of Taiwan at heart, it could consider taking a less overt route: Continue to support the sale of defensive weapons to Taiwan as specified under the Taiwan Relations Act, but stop using Taiwan as a political football in its efforts to discredit U.S. policy toward China.

CNN: A Rogue Vote On Taiwan

It would, anyway, take a considerable change of heart to bring Taiwan's investment in South-East Asia up to its 1996 level.

ECONOMIST: Taiwan launches a lifeboat

At the heart of the case is the sale in 1991 of six frigates to Taiwan.

BBC: Despatches