ABSTRACT
Taiwan'snowfamiliaremergenceasanewlyindustrializingcountry(NIC)and asamajorinternationaltradingnationseemedexceedinglyunlikelybackinthe 1950s.Defeatedandhumiliatedonthemainlandinthelate1940s,the"temporary"capitalwasmovedtoTaipeiinDecember1949.Thegovernmentforthe nextdecadeorsooperatedanostensibly"high-politics"foreignpolicythatwas almosttotallyoutoftouchwithreality.Itwasobsessedwith"retakingthe mainland,"apolicygoalthatwasmetworldwidewithacombinationofscornat bestandmockingamusementatworst.Theworldwaswatchingthe"NewChina" onthemainland,andmostnationswereadjustingtothatfact.Taiwan'shighpoliticsposturewasalsototallyunrelatedtoitsmeagerresources,whichwere clearlynomatchforthenewlyemergingPeople'sRepublicofChina(PRC).
