Gratuitously Disagreeable—Taiwan, 1980–1990

Abstract

The UK was one of the first western countries to recognise the People’s Republic of China, doing so in 1950. Although it kept a consulate in Taiwan until 1971, contact with the government there was minimal. But trade with Taiwan was growing faster than that with China, despite the enthusiasm of politicians and officials alike over the latter. This placed British officials in a quandary. They wanted to be seen to be supporting British exporters but were hampered by their own legalistic interpretations of what assistance was permissible without implying diplomatic recognition, and even more anxious not to upset the Chinese. As a result, the UK moved more cautiously than other European countries in developing links with Taiwan and sought to dissuade the European Commission from doing so. In the absence of a clear European framework, Taiwan was able to leverage the lure of contracts for European firms into greater political recognition.