“Mutual understanding and respect among nations help promote peace,
tolerance, and prosperity around the world. Since 1974, your organization
has helped advance American foreign policy and resolve conflicts that
threaten our national security.… I appreciate members of the National
Committee on American Foreign Policy for your commitment to furthering
human rights, strengthening our global economy, and extending freedom
and democracy to people everywhere.”
President George W. Bush
“The National Committee’s 1994 Conference on Northern
Ireland…helped to set the stage for an historic period of U.S. engagement
in promoting peace in Northern Ireland. By reaching out to key Irish and
British political leaders, you contributed to IRA and loyalist cease-fires. We
are grateful for your abiding commitment to the cause of peace and for your
extraordinary contributions in advancing that goal.”
President Bill Clinton
“On behalf of…Secretary [of State Condoleezza] Rice thanks for
forwarding the report on the [January 2005] visit to Beijing and Taiwan
by members of the National Committee on American Foreign
Policy…The Perspectives reviewed in your report were very helpful and
have been studied carefully by the Department. I appreciate you sharing
your observations and welcome other reports from the Committee on
foreign policy topics of interest.”
Joseph Donovan
Director, Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs
U.S. Department of State
"I would like to take this opportunity to commend the National Committee
for over a quarter of a century, almost 30 years now, of leadership in shaping
our nation’s foreign policy debate. In the finest traditions of Hans
Morgenthau, the National Committee continues to articulate an American
role in the world that combines realism with our core values. And never before
have our core values been more important.”
The Honorable Colin L. Powell
Secretary of State
“I just wanted to thank you for your summary of the National
Committee on American Foreign Policy’s trip to Beijing and Taipei this
past January [2005]. This is a perfect example of what ‘open source
intelligence’ can provide, and I have disseminated your findings through
appropriate channels. The cross-strait situation will continue to remain
on the forefront of our consciousness for the foreseeable future. Your
work on this subject couldn’t be more timely – thank you so much for
bringing it to my attention.”
The Honorable John D. Negroponte
Director of National Intelligence
“The persistent, well-informed efforts by you and your highly qualified
group have built trust in all three capitals [Washington, Beijing, Taipei].
The access and insights that you develop as a result are invaluable as we
all pursue peace in the Taiwan Strait.”
James F. Moriarty
Former Special Assistant to the President
Senior Advisor on Asian Affairs, National Security Council
“Let me express once more my admiration for the way the Committee has
pursued its chartered task and for the success it has had in that effort.”
The Honorable George F. Kennan
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union
“My enthusiasm for the splendid work of the National Committee on
American Foreign Policy is reflected in my active participation in its
programs. No other foreign policy organization does a better job of
leveraging its resources to stimulate and inform the national debate on
America’s role in the world.”
The Honorable Winston Lord
Former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Former U.S. Ambassador to China
“I am delighted to hear that the outstanding work of the National
Committee on American Foreign Policy goes on unabated, analyzing and
developing your country’s role in international affairs.”
The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Margaret Thatcher, L.G., O.M., F.R.S.
“I want to thank you again for inviting me to attend the conference earlier
this week [August 2004] on North Korea sponsored by the National
Committee on American Foreign Policy. This conference was the rare
exception to my experience with so many Track II conferences—the issues
were timely, the participants well-informed and representative of all the
parties, and the presentations and discussions first-rate.”
Mitchell B. Reiss
Director, Policy Planning Staff
U.S. Department of State
“The National Committee on American Foreign Policy’s program is the
best track two effort that exists in contributing to the stability in the
Taiwan Strait.”
President Chen Shui-bian
Taiwan (Republic of China)
“The National Committee on American Foreign Policy is very renowned
in Chinese diplomatic circles. It does useful work in promoting U.S.-China
relations. The Chinese side attaches great importance to your visits.”
His Excellency Tang Jiaxuan
State Councilor, People’s Republic of China
“Thanks to the NCAFP for providing an institutional home for the ideas
and ideals of the realist tradition.”
The Honorable James A. Baker III
Former Secretary of State
“It is not every day I praise another foreign affairs organization. But I want
to do just that…After thirty years, the National Committee on American
Foreign Policy is going strong. This is a very good thing for all of us. The
National Committee stands out as an oasis of non-partisanship and serious
thought about this country’s purpose in the world.”
The Honorable Richard N. Haass
President of the Council on Foreign Relations
“The NCAFP’s role in fostering peace and reconciliation in Northern
Ireland is exemplary. It has provided a forum where representatives of the
communities can express their points of view and know that they will be
heard by an audience willing to share its experience in foreign policy and
to offer constructive advice.”
Noel Fahey
Ambassador of Ireland to the United States
“Through its discussions, publications, and direct involvement in crises
from Northern Ireland, to China, to North Korea, and the Middle East,
the National Committee has made an important contribution to ensuring
America’s national interests are advanced from a nonpartisan perspective
within the framework of Morgenthau’s political realism.”
The Honorable Nancy Soderberg
Vice President, International Crisis Group
Former Ambassador to the United Nations
“American Foreign Policy Interests is an effective journal in the field of
foreign affairs—and little is more vital for the enigmatic future than
clearheaded discussions of America’s role in the world.”
Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
Dean of American Historians
“Since 1974, the National Committee on American Foreign Policy has
provided a high standard of analysis and perspective regarding many areas
where conflict resolution is critical. From experts in diplomacy to
members of academia, the Committee represents some of the most
perceptive minds and point[s] of view that have added an important
component to sensitive global debates.”
Governor George E. Pataki
“I believe that the NCAFP has performed a very valuable service on
the work in cross-strait relations which you ably coordinate. I read
carefully all of the trip and roundtable reports…. I find that they provide
valuable insights on views in the Mainland and on Taiwan and on
possibilities for renewing dialogue between the two sides. Participants from
both Taiwan and the Mainland have told me that your roundtable
meetings provide them with unique opportunities to interact and informally
exchange views. In the absence of any official channel between the two
sides, this opportunity for Track Two contact is especially important.”
Raymond F. Burghardt
Former Director, American Institute in Taiwan
“Taiwan is a key and difficult issue in U.S. diplomacy with the PRC, an
issue to which I have been devoting considerable attention. I have therefore
found especially helpful the opportunities to meet with various NCAFP
delegations over the past year.... The NCAFP has produced a series of
helpful reports on its cross-strait program, including a recent interim report,
‘Cross-Strait Relations: Breaking the Impasse,’ which has many useful
insights. Your inputs and insights are about the most balanced and useful
that we see.”
The Honorable Joseph W. Prueher
Former U.S. Ambassador to China
“Since its establishment in 1974, the National Committee on American
Foreign Policy has demonstrated a commitment to promoting human rights,
supporting our allies, and advancing the interests of the United States.”
Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor of New York City
“I cannot sufficiently emphasize the importance of this and similar
sessions hosted [on North Korea] by the NCAFP in the past.”
Keith Luse
Senior Professional Staff Member
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
"I commend you for the thoughtfulness and sophistication of the analysis that you
generated at the Committee's Roundtable. Your report makes a valuable and timely
contribution, particularly given the recent visit of Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen.
The NCAFP continues to be held in high esteem in the international affairs community.
We look forward to your continuing efforts to illuminate these difficult and important
issues."
The Honorable Colin L. Powell
Former U.S. Secretary of State
"The National Committee on American Foreign Policy is very renowned in Chinese
diplomatic circles. It does useful work in promoting U.S.-China relations. The Chinese
side attaches great importance to your visits."
His Excellency Tang Jiaxuan
State Councilor, People's Republic of China
Former Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China
"The NCAFP program is the best Track II effort that exists in contributing to stability
in the Taiwan Strait and I hope it will continue in the future. I specifically recall the
April 2000 visit of an NCAFP group when I was president-elect, and one month after
that visit when I gave my inaugural address, I put forward views on the Cross-Strait
situation that were influenced by your visit. I also recall the wonderful discussion I had
with the NCAFP and other groups during a transit stop to the United States in May
2001. Finally let me say that the timing of the latest visit (April 2002) is very
important, especially since it has come after the December 2001 elections in Taiwan in
which the DPP emerged as the largest party in the legislature and it coincides with the
visit to the United States of PRC Vice-President Hu Jintao."
President Chen Shui-bian
Taiwan (Republic of China)
"It was thoughtful of you to send me an inscribed copy of Breaking the China-Taiwan
Impasse, which you edited. It offers a timely and important perspective on a complex
relationship that is of great interest to the U.S., and I read it with much interest. Thank
you for bringing it to my attention."
The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger
Former U.S. Secretary of State
"During four decades of service in and out of government, including as President of the
Council on Foreign Relations, I have shaped, steered, and taken part in countless
conferences, roundtables, and study groups. The NCAFP Roundtable is one of a
handful of the very best."
The Honorable Winston Lord
Former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and PacificAffairs
Former U.S. Ambassador to China
Regular NCAFP Roundtable Participant
"Your insightful book [Breaking the China-Taiwan Impasse] provides an in-depth
analysis of the multi-aspects of cross-strait relations and opens up many avenues for
further thought and reflection. . . . We are particularly grateful to your esteemed
institution for its invaluable contribution to the stability and security of the Asia
Pacific region through study and research of issues related to cross-strait relations."
Chiou I-Jen
Secretary General, Republic of China
"The persistent, well-informed efforts by you and your highly-qualified group have
built trust in all three capitals. The access and insights that you develop as a result are
invaluable as we all pursue peace in the Taiwan Strait."
James F. Moriarty
Special Assistant to the President and Senior Adviser on Asian Affairs, National Security Council
"Many thanks for sharing the excellent report on your [January 2005] trip [to Beijing
and Taipei]. You and the NCAFP have done a valuable service in giving the reader a
sense of where the two sides seem to be in an ever changing context, as well as your
Analysis of their positions and what might happen. Yesterday's [February 23, 2005] joint Chen
Soong declaration out of Taipei did not come as a complete surprise for those who read
the report."
Peter F. Geithner
Adviser, Asia Center, Harvard University
"I believe that the NCAFP has performed a very valuable service on the work in Cross
Strait relations which you ably coordinate. I read carefully all of the trip and
roundtable reports.... I find that they provide valuable insights on views in the
Mainland and on Taiwan and on possibilities for renewing dialogue between the two
sides. Participants from both Taiwan and the Mainland have told me that your
roundtable meetings provide them with unique opportunities to interact and informally
exchange views. In the absence of any official channel between the two sides, this
opportunity for Track Two contact is especially important."
Raymond Burghardt
Former Director, American Institute in Taiwan
"I want to thank you very much for giving me a copy of Breaking the China-Taiwan
Impasse. . . . it is easily the best book of its kind that I have encountered lately. You
have collected all of the people whose views are interesting and relevant and have
added a valuable set of appendices for students and scholars. Please let me congratulate
you not only on the book but for pulling together the useful conferences that preceded
its publication."
Dr. George R. Packard
President, U.S.-Japan Foundation
"Thank you for sending along Donald Zagoria's good work on Cross-Strait Relations.
Thank you even more for sponsoring it. In its effort to identify consensus within the
United States and its stress on the need for nonmilitary methods of stabilizing and
Improving the situation, it is a very helpful contribution. I benefited from reading it."
The Honorable Richard Danzig
Former Secretary of the Navy
"The NCAFP Roundtable continues to serve a very important function in the
complicated Cross-Strait issue. Thursday's meeting was a good example. First of all,
this program has a significant stature that you were able to get Ma Ying-jeou to come
11,000 miles for lunch. Also, I was impressed by the quality of the discussion among the
Americans throughout the day.... More generally, I think the Roundtable will continue
to be a useful resource as we move into a new situation, with a new Administration in
Washington, new politics in Taipei, and succession looming in Beijing... I know that the
Chen government and other forces on Taiwan respect your efforts... The NCAFP can
help encourage a more nuanced PRC understanding of Taiwan's intentions which, I
believe, remains an essential ingredient of any future forward movement... Thank you
again for including me in recent meetings. I have benefited greatly and preparing my
own contributions has helped sharpen my thinking on these complex issues."
Richard C. Bush
Former Managing Director, American Institute in Taiwan
"[Breaking the China-Taiwan Impasse], the contributions of American, Taiwanese, and
Chinese foreign-policy experts to a series of roundtables sponsored by the National
Committee on American Foreign Policy, provides broad perspectives and substantive
Details on the difficult triangular relationship. . . . [T]he contributors demonstrate that
civility is possible even in debates that arouse intense nationalistic passions."
Lucian W. Pye
Foreign Affairs Review, March/April 2004
