7th US ambassador to China: Joseph W. Prueher

Term of appointment: Nov 16, 1999 - May 1, 2001

China connections: Prueher was commander-in-chief of the US Pacific Command and paid seven visits to China before his retirement from the US Navy. He was the shortest serving US ambassador to China.

Major issues: A US military reconnaissance plane rammed into and destroyed a Chinese military aircraft and then landed illegally on Hainan Island on April 1, 2001.