Declassification and release of archive documents from the United States today, shows that Taiwan attempted to build nuclear weapons, despite government denials and US government opposition.
These formerly confidential files detail how the US State Department used its diplomatic influence and intelligence sources to promote non-proliferation and halt Taiwan's secretive nuclear weapons program.
But what the US government failed to do, the evidence suggests, was stop Taiwan from giving up entirely its ambition and ability to develop weapons of mass destruction.
The story begins in 1964, after China conducted its first nuclear test. Shortly afterward, Taiwan launched its own nuclear weapons program, dubbed the "Hsinchu Project."
There is contention over who was the principal figure behind the programme. Wu Ta-you (
This view was contradicted by National Taiwan University professor of history, Hsu Cho-yun, in a 1966 interview at the US Embassy in Taipei, who said Chiang Kai-shek was the motivating force.
"At the direction of President Chiang, the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology, which superintends science research and development for the Ministry of National Defense, is continuing to push ahead with its program of developing an atomic weapon."
The quest for friends
1964
China conducts its first
nuclear test
1966
Local sources let US know
that Taiwan is pursuing a
nuclear weapons program
1967
Taiwan plans to purchase a
nuclear reprocessing
plant
from
Siemens in West Germany. The
US tries to block the sale then
backs down but retains
suspicions that Taiwan has
ulterior motives
1969
Taiwan begins work on a
reprocessing plant
1971
ROC is pushed out of the
United Nations by the People's
Republic of China
1972
The US State Department
learns that Taiwan intends to
purchase equipment for a
reprocessing plant from West
Germany
1973
After pressure from the US,
Taiwan's foreign minister says
the reprocessing plant will
not be built
1976
Reprocessing plant is
believed to be finished.
Premier Chiang Ching-kuo says
Taiwan will not engage in any
activities related to reprocessing
1979
US switches diplomatic
ties to China
1988
Deputy Director of nuclear
research, Chang Hsien-yi, flees
Taiwan handing over reams of
information to US officials
Taiwan puts to rest its ambitions
to build nuclear weapons
Taiwan puts to rest its ambitions to build nuclear weapons
Hsu said that Taiwan had difficulty finding nuclear materials for its research and its plans were often blocked.
Initially Taiwan asked the US and Israel for assistance, but the US flatly refused and Israel had its own security problems. Japan was approached but "reacted negatively, as it does to any effort to involve it in the development of nuclear weapons," an embassy document reported.
When Taiwan tried to buy a 50 megawatt heavy water nuclear power plant from the Federal Republic of Germany-based power company Siemens in 1967, the US issued a caution.
Nevertheless, that same year, the US' General Electric Corporation began construction of Taiwan's first nuclear power plant in the northeast part of the island.
Victor Cheng (
The US government later consented to support the sale of the German reactor, so that it would not appear to be contradicting itself and the reputation of the International Atomic Energy Agency to uphold safety standards.
"In view of unequivocal US statements of confidence in IAEA safeguard systems and US assurance to FRG [Federal Republic of Germany] that IAEA safeguards would not hinder German sales of nuclear equipment for peaceful purposes, the Department does not consider we should attempt to forestall sale through approach to either Siemens or FRG."
However, the telegram to the US embassy in Bonn added: "The Department (of state) intends to furnish FRG through other channels USG [US government] information on GRC purchase of Siemens reactor ... we are not yet convinced that purpose motivating GRC desire to buy Siemens reactor is unrelated to interest in nuclear weapons."
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