As Donald Trump becomes the first U.S. president to be impeached twice, his administration continues to cement his political legacy, at home and abroad. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo angered Beijing in recent days by lifting restrictions on official relations with Taiwan, and by proposing a controversial visit by the U.S.’s UN ambassador to the island, although this was later cancelled. China has urged the U.S. to stop all official and military contacts with the Taiwan region, warning of countermeasures. 

How will China respond, and what happens now? What does the incoming Biden administration mean for cross-Strait ties? 

And can China and the U.S. again reach consensus on handling Taiwan? 

Guests in this edition are Douglas H. Paal, Distinguished Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Asia Program; Huang Jing, Dean of the Institute of International and Regional Studies at the Beijing Language and Culture University; and Professor Cheng Youping of Taipei University.