1. Thornton, Susan A.
Testimony at the Subcommittee Hearing: The Future of U.S.-Taiwan Relations.
U.S. House of Representatives, February 11, 2016, 4 pages.
“We have developed a vital partnership with Taiwan that is filled with many opportunities for cooperation in the future. We are committed to ensuring that this relationship, built upon the strong foundation of the Taiwan Relations Act, will continue to thrive as we find new innovative ways to deepen our unofficial ties.” (From the United States of House of Representatives)

2. Cunningham, Fiona S. and M. Taylor Fravel.
Why China Won't Abandon Its Nuclear Strategy of Assured Retaliation.
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School, December 2015.
“Whether China will abandon its long-standing nuclear strategy of assured retaliation for a first-use posture will be a critical factor in U.S.-China strategic stability. In recent years, the United States has been developing strategic capabilities such as missile defenses and conventional long-range strike capabilities that could reduce the effectiveness of China’s deterrent. Writings by Chinese strategists and analysts, however, indicate that China is unlikely to abandon its current nuclear strategy.” (From the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs)

3. Glaser, Bonnie.
US-China Relations: Xi’s First State Visit to US: Pomp and Progress.
Center for Strategic and International Studies, January 2016, 18 Pages.
“Despite growing friction between the US and China on a number of issues, Xi Jinping’s state visit to the US in September was mostly positive and produced important outcomes on climate change, cyber security, and avoiding accidents between military aircraft. Tensions persisted in the South China Sea with China unwilling to stop its construction and militarization of terraformed reefs. The USS Lassen, a US Navy guided-missile destroyer, exercised international rights of freedom of navigation by sailing within 12nm of Chinese-occupied Subi Reef. The Obama administration notified Congress of its intent to sell a $1.83 billion arms package to Taiwan prompting Chinese objections, but no suspension of bilateral military exchanges.” (From the CSIS)

4. Lohman, Walter.
Top Five Political-Security Priorities for the Asia–Pacific in 2016.
The Heritage Foundation, February 5, 2016, 3 pages.
“The Obama Administration’s formulation of American commitments to Asia, the rebalance or pivot, has had its successes and shortcomings. 2016 should serve as a time for the Obama Administration to deliver as best it can on the unfinished pieces of its Asia policy and thereby set the table for its successor to implement its own energetic formulation. In so doing, the Administration should prioritize the following five issues.” (From Heritage Foundation)

5. Sutter, Robert.
The Taiwan Elections: don't Expect a US Policy Change.
Center for Strategic and International Studies, January 20, 2016, 2 pages.
“Even with the recent significant US debate over China and a hardening of Obama administration policy toward Beijing, US government policy toward Taiwan is unlikely to change for the remainder of Obama's term. After that, possible change is contingent on which US presidential candidate is elected and the salience of the Taiwan issue among an array of more urgent policy choices for the new US president.” (From the CSIS)

6. Labonte, Marc.
Monetary Policy and the Federal Reserve: Current Policy and Conditions.
Washington, D.C. : Congressional Research Service, January 28, 2016, 22 pages.“This report provides an overview of monetary policy and recent developments, a summary of the Fed’s actions following the financial crisis, and ends with a brief overview of the Fed’s regulatory responsibilities.” (From CRS Report)

7. McMinimy, Mark A.
American Agriculture and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement.
Washington, D.C. : Congressional Research Service, January 8, 2016, 17 pages.
“As of late-December 2015, numerous major farm and food trade organizations had endorsed the TPP agreement, but support within the farm and food sector has not been universal. The National Farmers Union, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, and organizations representing tobacco leaf growers have all expressed opposition to the agreement.” (From CRS Report)

8. Fingerhut, Hannah.
What Voters Want in a President Today, and How Their Views Have Changed.
Pew Research Center, February 12, 2016, 10 pages.
“The presidential nomination contests are heating up and both parties’ 2016 fields have narrowed. It’s time to consider what voters want in a president, regardless of which candidate they may support. “(From Pew Research Center)

9. Glassman, Matthew E.
Separation of Powers: An Overview.
Washington, D.C. : Congressional Research Service, January 8, 2016, 23 pages.“This report provides an overview of separation of powers. It first reviews the philosophical and political origins of the doctrine. Then it surveys the structure of separation of power in the Constitution. It next discusses the consequences of the system, for both the institutions and for individual political actors. Finally, there is a discussion of separation of powers in the context of contemporary politics.” (From CRS Report)

10. Krogstad, Jens Manuel.
2016 Electorate Will be the Most Diverse in U.S. History.
Pew Research Center, February 3, 2016, 2 pages.
“The U.S. electorate this year will be the country’s most racially and ethnically diverse ever. Nearly one-in-three eligible voters on Election Day (31%) will be Hispanic, black, Asian or another racial or ethnic minority, up from 29% in 2012. Much of this change is due to strong growth among Hispanic eligible voters, in particular U.S.-born youth.” (From Pew Research Center)

11. Rainie, Lee and Maeve Duggan.
Privacy and Information Sharing.
Pew Research Center, January 14, 2016, 6 pages.“Most Americans see privacy issues in commercial settings as contingent and context-dependent. A new Pew Research Center study based on a survey of 461 U.S. adults and nine online focus groups of 80 people finds that there are a variety of circumstances under which many Americans would share personal information or permit surveillance in return for getting something of perceived value. “(From Pew Research Center)

12. Blanchard, Christopher M. and Carla E. Humud.
The Islamic State and U.S. Policy.
Washington, D.C. : Congressional Research Service, February 9, 2016, 39 pages.
“This report provides background on the Islamic State organization, discussing its goals, operations, and affiliates, as well as analyzing related U.S. legislative and policy debates.” (From CRS Report)

13. Mills, Mark.
Expanding America’s Petroleum Power in the Third Oil Era.
Manhattan Institute, February 2016, 20 pages.
“How can America expand its petroleum power in a new Third Oil Era, especially in the face of fierce global price manipulation and competition? Congress should pursue four steps to help American oil firms compete in a low-cost environment that would also benefit consumers with sustained low prices and, not least, also expand U.S. geopolitical petroleum power. These steps include cutting the red tape (reversing overregulation), cutting corporate taxes, drilling more on federal lands, and repurposing the strategic petroleum reserve.” (From Manhattan Institute)

14. Noerper, Stephen.
North Korea Missile Launch: What Comes Next?
Center for Strategic and International Studies, February 8, 2016, 1 page.
“The launch of the Taepodong missile defied a United Nations ban, once again placing North Korea in direct defiance of international norms. The UN decried the launch as deeply deplorable. Japan’s Prime Minister Abe Shinzo called it “absolutely unacceptable,” and his ambassador to the United Nations, alongside those of the United States and South Korea, deemed it an “outrage.” ROK President Park Geun-Hye called it an “intolerable provocation.” (From the CSIS)

15. Wehrey, Frederic and Wolfram Lacher.
The Next Front Against ISIS.
Carnegie Endowment For International Peace, February 7, 2016, 3 pages.
“Any strategy to combat the self-proclaimed Islamic State in Libya should aim to bridge Libyan political divides while channeling assistance in a way that promotes cooperation between rival forces.” (From the Carnegie Endowment For International Peace)