Formosa Policy

Archive Report

Formosa Policy and the Korean War

Decision of United States to Neutralize Formosa

The Korean war has had the indirect effect of restoring Formosa, island refuge of the Chinese Nationalist government of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, to a prominent place in the complex of Far East problems. Eight months ago, after the Nationalists had been driven from the mainland, the Truman administration virtually wrote off Formosa as foredoomed to fall to the Chinese Communists.1 The President announced, Jan. 5, 1950, that the United States would not “provide military aid or advice to Chinese forces on Formosa” or “pursue a course which will lead to involvement in the civil conflict in China.”

Invasion of South Korea at the end of June brought a sharp reversal of American policy toward ...

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