Tug of War
A Synopsis

By Caroline Tsai '99

Last November, PBS viewers caught a 90-minute glimpse of Taiwan’s intricate history. Produced by Judith Vecchione, Tug of War: The Story of Taiwan unveils the political developments in Taiwan which have been obscured from world view by martial law for most of the last half century.

History reveals itself through archival photos and videos: candid footage of early Taiwanese settlers from mainland China; the assimilation of Taiwanese into a Japanese society; the influx of two million Chinese refugees into Taiwan; the rivalry between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China for international recognition at the United Nations; the vibrant culture and miraculous economy of Taiwan; the painful return to the mainland for Chinese Nationalists who fled to Taiwan from China’s communist takeover; the decades of civilian demonstrations against repression; and the recent missile tests conducted by China in the Taiwan Straits.

In addition, interviews of both Taiwanese and Chinese people piece together the lifestyles under various political structures in Taiwan. Survivors of the February 28, 1947 Massacre tell their tragic stories which have been kept secret duringthe past forty years of martial law. A puppetmaster talks about the elimination of puppetry, a dazzling art form in Taiwan, under Japanese occupation. Politicians speak of their impressions of the late presidents Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo. Activists explain their motivations for the democracy and independence movements.

While many Americans are aware that the Taiwan issue is a "hot spot" in U.S.-China relations, they know very little about the situation itself. Tug of War urges the international community to learn about the issues at stake and to take an active part in the development of the China-Taiwan relations for the sake of peace in Asia and in the world.

For more information about Tug of War: The Story of Taiwan, visit its homepage on the WGBH site:

http://www.wgbh.org/wgbh/tv/tugofwar

 

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