In recent years, official cross-strait relations have been at a standstill, and formal channels of communication have been closed. The idea of the second track has again come to the fore. Moreover, it has gone from being behind the scenes to center stage, and the status of participants is higher than before. These developments are due in large part to the actions of former US secretary of defense William Perry.
近年來兩岸關係停滯不前，正式溝通管道封閉，「第二管道」乃再度被提出，並從檯面下走向檯面上，層級的提昇與前國防部長裴利等重量級人士的倡議有關。