Chiang Kaishek's nationalists flee communist mainland for Taiwan. China supplants Taiwan at the United Nations. United States switches diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei, but pledges to keep Taiwan supplied with defensive weapons. Taiwan renounces use of force to retake the mainland. He calls for official visits and end to state of hostility.
China stages military exercise near Taiwan.
U.S. dispatches two aircraft carrier battle groups to the eastern Pacific to monitor Chinese military exercises. China begins new round of military exercises that it says will continue through March 25, two days after Taiwan's presidential election.