ABSTRACT
Following the collapse of the communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe in 1989, Taipei considered the idea of establishing diplomatic relations with some of the new post-communist states. Utilizing a mixture of the promises of aid, trade and investments, as well as less-publicized rewards for certain well- placed individuals in the post-communist regimes, Taipei succeeded in establish- ing ‘substantive’ ties with Central Europe and several post-Soviet states. However, the ultimate goal of gaining a diplomatic foothold in the post- communist geopolitical space evaded Taipei until January 1999, when the Tai- wanese finally managed to win an ally in Macedonia.
