When President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan took office last May, he set two priorities in foreign policy: improve relations with mainland China, the main threat to his self-governing island, and repair the damage to Taiwan's standing with the United States, its primary foreign protector.

For the past 10 months, Ma has sought to ease tensions with the mainland with small moves such as arranging for more passenger flights from Taipei to China and inviting more Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan. In recent days, Ma has turned to concentrate on rebuilding trust by the Americans, especially President Obama and his administration.

In particular, Ma addressed an influential audience in Washington through a videoconference call on Wednesday in which he promised "surprise-free and low-key" dealings with the U.S. and an effort to be a "responsible peacemaker" in the international arena. He said "pragmatism" would be the mark of his foreign policy.

In contrast, Ma's predecessor, President Chen Shui-bian, antagonized Chinese leaders with his relentless pursuit of independence for Taiwan. Chen antagonized American leaders, including President George W. Bush, who was basically pro-Taiwan, by failing to consult with Washington and by taking what Bush officials considered to be reckless positions toward China.

Even as Ma spoke, the Chinese reminded the people of Taiwan, and indeed the world, that they were continuing to acquire the military power to deter Taiwanese independence and possibly to conquer the island. The People's Liberation Army marked the 60th anniversary of its navy with a review at sea that included warships from 14 other navies, including the U.S.

The U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Gary Roughead, led the American delegation to Beijing and the port of Qingdao. The admiral, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, conferred with political and military leaders as he sought to have Sino-U.S. military exchanges revived. China broke them off in October after the U.S. announced it would sell $6.5 billion worth of arms to Taiwan.

Those exchanges are intended to dissuade Chinese leaders from miscalculating American capabilities and intentions. The Americans seek to discern the reasons behind China's military buildup, including its plans to acquire a blue-water navy as opposed to its present largely coastal navy.

The government of Taiwan has organized its current effort to influence the U.S. around the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which was enacted by overwhelming votes in Congress after President Jimmy Carter switched U.S. diplomatic recognition of China from Taipei to Beijing. The TRA governs U.S. unofficial dealings with Taiwan, including arms sales.

To reinforce the TRA, Taiwan's representatives in the U.S. have sponsored a dozen panel discussions across the country in which scholars, specialists, and diplomats have discussed the TRA and relations between the U.S. and Taiwan. Journalists have been invited to Taiwan to interview leaders and to witness political and economic developments.

President Ma's address to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the prominent think tank in Washington, was a featured event in this effort. He emphasized Taiwan's commitment to its own defense, which had been questioned by some Americans.

"I want to reassure America," he said, "that Taiwan will not free-ride on the United States for its own security." He added: "I urge the United States not to hesitate to provide Taiwan with the necessary defensive arms as stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act." In response to a question from the audience, President Ma said Taiwan wanted to obtain submarines and advanced F-16 jet fighter planes from the U.S.

In addition, he said Taiwan would like to get a waiver on visas so that more Taiwanese tourists could visit America and to negotiate a free trade agreement that would expand commerce.

Richard Halloran, formerly with The New York Times as a correspondent in Asia and in Washington, is a writer in Honolulu.