In 2003, while still serving as deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia, Randall Schriver was asked by Taiwanese reporters what the U.S. view would be on the proposal for Taiwan to hold a national referendum in conjunction with the 2004 election. Schriver gave a rather lengthy, rambling and convoluted answer that could have been summarized in a more concise form by saying, “it depends.” The same remains true today.