Washington's Taiwan dilemma, 1949-1950 : from abandonment to salvation / David M. Finkelstein.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Finkelstein, David Michael, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States--Foreign relations--Taiwan.

United States.

Taiwan--Foreign relations--United States.

Taiwan.

Taiwan--History--1945-.

United States--Foreign relations--1945-1953.

United States--Foreign relations--China.

China--Foreign relations--United States.

China.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (393 p.)

Place of Publication:

Annapolis, Maryland : Naval Institute Press, 1993.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The declaration of the People's Republic of China in October 1949 presented American foreign policy officials with two dilemmas: how to deal with the communist government on the mainland and what to do about Chiang Kai-shek's holdout Nationalist regime on Taiwan. By early 1950 these questions were pressing hard upon U.S. civilian and military planners and policy makers, for it appeared that the Red Army was preparing to invade the island. Most observers believed that nothing short of American military intervention would preclude a communist victory on Taiwan. How U.S. officials grappled w

Contents:

Acknowledgments; Table of Contents; Preface to the Paperback Edition; Introduction; 1. The United States and China, 1938-1948: A Frustrating Encounter; 1.1 The U.S. and China on the Eve of the Second World War; 1.2 The Difficulties of Alliance; 1.3 The Aftermath of V-J Day; 1.4 Truman, Marshall, and CHina, 1947-1949; 2. The Nationalist Occupation of Taiwan, 1945-1948L A Less Than Inspiring Record; 2.1 Taiwan and the Chinese Empire; 2.2 The Japanese Half-Century; 2.3 The Nationalists take Control; 2.4 The ""February Incident"" and the ""March Massacre""

2.5 The Reaction in Nanking and Washington2.6 Wei Tao-Ming's ""Reform"" Administration; 2.7 The Strategic Importance of Formosa; 2.8 Retreat; 3. Acheson's China Policy: Banking on Mao Tse-Tito; 3.1 Foreign Policy Makers 1949: The Department of State; 3.2 ""Titoism"" and China: Roots of a Policy; 3.3 U.S. Aims in China are Articulated; 3.4 NSC 41: Pursuing Chinese Titoism; 4. In Search Of a Taiwan Policy: January-March 1949; 4.1 January 1949: The Situation on Taiwan Worsens; 4.2 State Calls for a Taiwan Policy; 4.3 Taiwan as a Divisive Issue Between State and Defense

4.4 Defense and State Respond to the NSC4.5 The 35th Meeting of the NSC: Titoism and Taiwan Linked; 5. The Mission of LIvingston T. Merchant: March-May 1949; 5.1 Merchant and His Mission; 5.2 Whom to Approach? When to Approach Him?; 5.3 The Search for an Indigenous Political Force; 5.4 The Pentagon Responds to the NSC; 5.5 Stuck with Ch'en; 5.6 Merchants Views Receive a Reprieve; 5.7 Sprouse Suggests a Modified Demarche; 5.8 Merchant Questions the NSC Plan for Taiwan; 6. Taiwan Policy Reviewed: May-November 1949; 6.1 China Troubles Plague the State Department

6.2 Merchant Reports Back to State6.3 Kennan's Radical Solution; 6.4 NSC 37/6: Feeling Out the Department of Defense; 6.5 The Pentagon Is Not Willing to Act; 6.6 Taiwan Policy Is Adjusted; 6.7 Chang Is Put On Notice; 6.8 Taiwan ""Abandoned""; 7. December 1949: NSC 48 and the Battle for Formosa; 7.1 NSC 48: A Chance to ""Save"" Taiwan; 7.2 CHang and the KMT: An Eleventh-Hour Face-Lift; 7.3 The China Bloc: H. ALexander Smith; 7.4 Douglas MacArthur: SCAP Weighs in; 7.5 Pentagon Pressures; 7.6 State Stands Firm; 7.7 State and Defense Square Off; 8. Taiwan Policy Besieged: January-June 1950

8.1 Furor Over Formosa8.2 January-March: Problems with Peking, Trouble with Taipei; 8.3 April: SIgnificant Personnel Changes at State; 8.4 May: Desperation After the Fall of Hainan; 8.5 June: On the Eve of Korea; EPILOGUE: Korea and the Neutralization of Taiwan; Conclusions; Appendix: Macarthur's Memorandom on Formosa 14 June 1950; Bibliography; Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-61251-474-X