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Agnew's visit to Taiwan was billed as a mission of reassurance. The Chinese Nationalists have been dismayed by Washington's recent moves to improve relations with Peking by slightly easing trade restrictions and seeking to resume ambassador-level talks. En route to Taipei, Agnew defended the policy ot lessening tensions and said that it would continue. "Communist China is a country of over 800 million people. They can't be ignored." On arrival, however, he assured President Chiang Kai-shek that "there is no diminution in our posture here." Then he flew on to Bangkok to deliver the same message to King Bhumibol and the Thai government.