China Yearbook 1958-1959, by The China Yearbook Editorial Board, (RARE, First Edition, Illustrated), 1959 📜🇹🇼🇨🇳

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare and a cornerstone work of Cold War-era political history. The book, China Yearbook 1958-1959, is a historical reference volume that provides a detailed and firsthand account of the Republic of China during a critical period in its history. Published in 1959 by the China Publishing Company in Taipei, Taiwan, this volume is a highly sought-after artifact for collectors of East Asian studies. It offers a unique window into a significant period of Chinese and Taiwanese relations. This edition is a tangible connection to the enduring legacy of the Nationalist government after its retreat to Taiwan. Its documented rarity and exceptional content make this a premier acquisition for any serious library. The book is not merely a handbook; it is a document of a political and social movement in exile. This volume is an extraordinary find, representing a critical period in the history of modern China.

---

2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

The China Yearbook provides a comprehensive overview of the Republic of China on Taiwan during 1958-1959. It serves as a primary source, documenting the political structure, economic activities, social developments, and diplomatic relations of the island nation. The yearbook contains information on a wide range of topics, including the government, economic production, foreign relations, and military affairs. It offers a window into the official perspective of the ROC government at a time when Taiwan was solidifying its place in the world. This edition features illustrations and a fold-out map, adding to its comprehensive nature.

---

3. About the Author ✍️🏛️✨

The China Yearbook Editorial Board was responsible for compiling and publishing this handbook, playing a central role in documenting and disseminating information about Taiwan's development. Their achievement lies in producing a structured and informative annual record that aimed to provide a clear and authoritative portrayal of the island. The board's work contributed to shaping the understanding of Taiwan's situation and its progress, particularly for an English-speaking audience. While the specific individuals on the board may not be widely known, their collective effort in producing this publication makes them significant contributors to the historical record of Taiwan.

---

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1959, this volume captures the spirit of the Republic of China on Taiwan during a period of ongoing geopolitical tension and economic development. The Cold War was in full swing, and the book serves as a historical marker, capturing the nation's self-image and documented state as it continued to build and develop its infrastructure and international presence.

The book's publication occurred during a period of international isolation for the ROC government, as many nations, including the United States, began to shift their recognition to the People's Republic of China on the mainland. In this context, the China Yearbook was a critical tool for the ROC to assert its sovereignty and legitimacy on the world stage. It was a document of defiance and a statement of intent, detailing the ROC's progress despite its political challenges.

---

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is intended for a curator of East Asian political history, a scholar of the Cold War, or a private collector of official government documents from the mid-20th century. It is an ideal acquisition for an individual who seeks to understand the intellectual and political currents that shaped the relationship between Taiwan and Mainland China. This volume would be a centerpiece in a collection focused on the history of political propaganda or post-war reconstruction in Asia. It appeals to a collector who values a primary source document that captures a nation's official narrative.

---

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This 1959 First Edition of the China Yearbook is a valuable and collectible item for several reasons. Its primary value stems from its status as a highly specific, primary source document for the history of the Republic of China on Taiwan. As a yearly volume, it is not widely available, making it a rare find for scholars and collectors of East Asian political history. The book’s worth is derived directly from its market scarcity and its documented history as a historical artifact. The book is approximately 66 years old, a testament to its survival and continued relevance.

---

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This book is a used hardcover edition with a blue cloth binding and a dust jacket.

• The dust jacket shows visible wear consistent with its age, including rubbing, scuffing, and some discoloration.

• The hardcover binding itself is in good condition.

• The pages are age-toned but remain clear and legible.

• There are no personal inscriptions or markings.

---

8. Translation of Inscriptions/Ephemera (Conditional) ✍️📜🔤

This book contains no known inscriptions or unique markings from a previous owner, which is consistent with its past as a reference volume. The value is derived from its well-preserved state as an authentic piece of mid-20th-century Taiwanese publishing.

---

9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The China Yearbook was published in English to serve as a tool for the Nationalist government's international relations and to appeal to a Western audience.

• The inclusion of a fold-out map and numerous illustrations was intended to provide a comprehensive and visually engaging overview of Taiwan, reinforcing the ROC's image as a stable and developing nation.

• The book's content provides an official and unfiltered look at how the ROC government viewed its own progress and its relationship with Mainland China.

---

10. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: China Yearbook 1958-1959

• Author/Maker: The China Yearbook Editorial Board

• Year: 1959

• Publisher/Foundry: China Publishing Company

• Place of Origin: Taipei, Taiwan

• Illustrator(s): Maps and illustrations

• Format/Binding: Hardcover with a dust jacket

• Edition: First Edition

• Rarity: Rare

Transcription: N/A

---

11. Summary of 1958 📜🇹🇼🇨🇳

The Second Taiwan Strait Crisis (August–October 1958)

• The initial attack: On August 23, 1958, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched an intense artillery barrage on Kinmen, with an average of 40,000 shells falling on the island that day alone. The PRC forces also attempted a naval blockade to cut off ROC garrisons from supplies.

• PRC motivations: Beijing's decision to escalate military action was intended to challenge U.S. support for Taiwan, test its military commitments, and protest continued U.S. military aid to the ROC. It also drew on Cold War dynamics, taking advantage of U.S. distraction with the recent intervention in Lebanon.

• ROC defense: The ROC forces on Kinmen, though caught by surprise, mounted a sustained defense and returned fire. However, their ability to resupply the besieged garrisons was severely hampered by the PRC's naval and air dominance

U.S. involvement and nuclear threats

• U.S. escalation: The U.S. responded to the ROC's request for aid by reinforcing its naval and air units in the region and helping the ROC enforce a naval blockade to protect supply lines. In a significant escalation, the U.S. explored the option of using nuclear weapons against the PRC to deter a full-scale invasion, which was described by a U.S. official as the "first serious nuclear crisis".

• Chiang-Dulles talks: In October, U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles visited Taipei and met with ROC President Chiang Kai-shek. The two governments issued a joint communiqué reaffirming their solidarity against PRC aggression.

• Restraining ROC ambition: The U.S. also pressed Chiang to publicly declare that the ROC would not use force to retake the mainland, effectively limiting Taiwan's offensive military actions. This underscored the U.S. goal of containing communism without initiating a wider war.

The resolution and aftermath

• Unusual ceasefire: The crisis ended with an eccentric arrangement in which the PRC and ROC agreed to shell each other's garrisons only on alternate days. The shells eventually shifted from live ordnance to propaganda leaflets. This symbolic artillery duel would continue until the U.S. formally recognized the PRC in 1979.

• Strategic isolation: The crisis reinforced Taiwan's strategic dependence on the U.S. for its defense, but also formalized its political and military separation from mainland China.

• Domestic and international effects: The 1958 crisis had significant international repercussions, including contributing to the growing Sino-Soviet rift, and reminded the world of the lingering potential for conflict in the Taiwan Strait.