Taiwan's citizenry had a negative perception of the mainlanders and their military that was underscored when hundreds of thousands more soldiers began to enter Taiwan in the spring of 1949. This group, defeated by the peasant soldiers of Mao Tse-Tung, came to Taiwan both individually and as part of units. They appeared downtrodden and demoralized. One observer noted: We all … [Read more...] about COLD WAR: TAIWAN AND THE ARRIVING MAINLANDERS
China | Manchuria
EARLY COLD WAR YEARS: TAIWAN AND THE MAINLANDERS
The first Nationalist soldiers arrived in Keelung on the northern tip of Taiwan in October 1945. Their arrival provoked mixed reactions. The Taiwanese who were already living on the island expected to be freed from strict Japanese colonial rule. The arriving Chinese also wanted freedom from Japanese exploitation. At the same time, they respected the efficiency of the … [Read more...] about EARLY COLD WAR YEARS: TAIWAN AND THE MAINLANDERS
COLD WAR TAIWAN: CHIANG LEAVES THE MAINLAND
In December 1949, the government of the Republic of China moved to Taiwan where a force of 300,000 Nationalist troops was already stationed. Prior to Chiang's arrival, the Taiwan Garrison Command proclaimed an Emergency Decree (martial law) throughout the province. The relocated KMT government was marginalized by the United States until after the outbreak of war in Korea … [Read more...] about COLD WAR TAIWAN: CHIANG LEAVES THE MAINLAND
COLD WAR TAIPEI
Although Taipei is situated in close proximity to mainland China, Korea, and Japan, the US did not consider the city to be of geostrategic importance in the immediate post World War II period. Not until the communist invasion of South Korea in 1950 was the area thought to be an essential link in America’s effort to forestall Soviet aggression and protect Japanese … [Read more...] about COLD WAR TAIPEI
THE NIXON APPROACH: MAINLAND CHINA
Even though the isolation and containment of mainland China had been a standing principle of US foreign policy, President Nixon, with his strong anti-Communist background, felt that it was time to adopt a more conciliatory attitude. According to Hsu in The Rise of Modern China The Nixon-Kissinger world perspective was a product of Realpolitik. It postulated that the … [Read more...] about THE NIXON APPROACH: MAINLAND CHINA
