5th US ambassador to China: J. Stapleton Roy

Term of appointment: July 2, 1991 - June 17, 1995

China connections: Roy was born in Nanjing in 1935 and was fluent in Chinese. He was the first ambassador with the experience of working in Hong Kong, Taipei and Beijing.

Major issues: Roy was appointed by former US president George H. W. Bush. The US government announced on May 22, 1995 its decision permitting former Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui to pay a "private visit" to the US, and Sino-US relations fell to 1989 lows.