1.   Christopher was at pains to explain that the longstanding U.S. policy of recognition of China and unofficial ties with Taiwan had not changed.

2.   The United States ended its mutual defense treaty with Taiwan and Congress substituted domestic legislation known as the Taiwan Relations Act to govern unofficial U.S. ties with Taiwan.

3.   Under intense pressure from China, the United States now maintains only unofficial ties with Taiwan, which the government in Beijing views as a breakaway province.

4.   Beijing regards Taiwan as a rebel province with no right to diplomatic relations and has been trying to halt Taiwanese efforts to upgrade its unofficial ties in Southeast Asia.

5.   Beijing was outraged when Taiwanese Premier Lien Chan visited Ukraine last month, ostensibly to promote unofficial ties.

6.   But the United States retains strong unofficial ties with Taiwan, and remains its main weapons supplier.

7.   But many other nations, including the Philippines, retain strong unofficial economic ties with Taiwan.

8.   But unofficial ties are strong, bolstered in recent years by heavy Taiwanese investment in the free trade zone at Subic Bay.

9.   But unofficial ties remain close, and Washington is bound by law to ensure Taiwan can defend itself.

10.   But trade and unofficial ties have remained close.