Taiwan is only one-fourth the size of Illinois but has twice as many people, fascinating landscapes, the World Vegetable Center, and the world’s 20th largest economy providing important exports such as in information-technology. Linked with mainland China for several centuries, it has been independent with special connections to the U.S. for the last 70 years and now has a key role in East Asia’s economic geography and complicated international relations. These relations have grown even more complicated due to China's desire to reincorporate the island. It is a place that deserves our attention.
Dr. Norm Moline, Professor Emeritus of Geography, Augustana College, directed foreign study programs in East Asia for forty years and has been to Taiwan 25 times between 1974 and 2018. He has been invited by that government to attend several national day celebrations in Taipei and has given lectures at National Taiwan University.