Affordable ally: Taiwan's diplomatic venture in Macedonia

Journal compilation © 2008 Political Studies Association and Blackwell Publishing Ltd Published in Politics, 2002; 22 (1):31-38 at www.interscience.wiley.com This article examines foreign policy of the Republic of China (ROC) towards East Central Europe (ECE) through the prism of Taipei's diplomatic strategies vis-à-vis Macedonia. Specifically, it identifies and explains the broad goals and rationale behind Taipei's increased interest in ECE after the Cold War. The study concludes that the Taiwanese interest in East Central Europe was motivated by its wish to capitalise on ECE's anti-communist euphoria and need for foreign capital, hoping that promises of generous economic assistance would convince some ECE states to extend diplomatic recognition to the ROC. Czeslaw Tubilewic