During the Cold War up until the 70s the US was happy to use Chiang and Taiwan as a political counter weight to Red China. Taiwan didn't play the role in the Cold War that Chiang would have the country do so. Truman declined to use Nationalist troops in Korea. After Nixon recognized main land China Taiwan eventually ended up in the position it is in today.
Well, that - non-recognition of China - turned out to be more like our embargo of Cuba but no other country cares or respects our embargo. Which put us behind in dealing with mainland China. The US was last by a decade in recognizing mainland China. Taiwan is 12,000 sq miles and a population of 22.9 million (14% from the mainland), and GDP per person, $31,900. (China, $6,100) (South Korea, $26,000) (Japan, $35,300). All data per the CIA World Factbook.
In late 1950, which is the time when there was a discussion of involving the Nationalists in Korea, they had just in December 1949, been pushed off the mainland. The Nationalist army was tired, getting old and not much interested in going into another war. Remember, the Nationalists and Communists had been at it since the early1930s. And integrating the Chinese Army into our UN command would not have been easy.
If you recall from the WW2 CBI history, Chiang was much like an oriental DeGaulle. He wanted to run the train even though he was not buying the coal!
Plus, there was the very real problem of logistics. As it turned out we had enough men to do the job, all the more so if MacArthur had followed his orders.
If Taiwan was free of US influence the matter would have been resolved by now. Also Taiwan wouldn't make arms purchases from US if it was free from that country influence. IMO as time goes the likely hood of reunification rather then independence for Taiwan grows because of China recent economic growth and the focus of the US being elsewhere. Still the matter does need to be resolved so the US can stop trying to appease both sides.
I suppose no country even the RF is totally “free” of US influence. Although we got our intel butts kicked in the Georgia fiasco last year, nevertheless the US was able to generate a problem that hurt the RF’s public image. But I am of the opinion the relationship between W-DC and Taipei soured in 1972 when Nixon recognized the PRC.
We changed from being the benevolent big brother to Chiang to being his meddlesome uncle. OTOH not only did the 7th fleet have orders to prevent the Chi-coms from invading Taiwan but it ALSO had orders to stop any return to the mainland by the Nationalists.
I fully agree the direction points to reunification, most likely on the Hong Kong plan. I understand that already there is pretty much freedom of travel between the island and the mainland. Postal, telephone and telegraph service has been restored. The split is more technical than factual.
www.u-s-history.com...
[edit on 3/14/2009 by donwhite]
