The Republic of China 1972–1992

Abstract

Diplomatically isolated but economically thriving, Taiwan in the 1970s and the increasingly confident Taiwan of the 1980s emerged as a vibrant player on the global economic stage. Yet, the period witnessed Washington’s political shift in diplomatic ties from Taipei to Beijing.

Though the political rupture was near fatal for Taipei, the US Congress passed the landmark Taiwan Relations in 1979 which retained strong economic and de facto political links with Taiwan.

Interestingly, during this era, Taiwan’s evolutionary democratization and decompression from martial law era engendered a more open society and the rise of genuine opposition parties to challenge the ruling KMT.