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Taiwan is Taiwan. And it wasn't a factor in WWII because the US decided to bypass it. Nimitz wanted to by pass the Philippines and invade Taiwan (Formosa as it was normally called then). MacArthur who had a person stake with the Philippines "I shall return," argued for the Philippines--both Chester and he got an audience with FDR to justify their positions and the American Caesar won.

Good choice too. American would have won the Formosa campaign but at heavy costs, unlike in the Philippines most Taiwanese saw themselves as Japanese and would have fought hard to defend the Island.

Many Taiwanese fought for Japan during the war. Former President Lee Teng Hui, was a Second Lt. in the Japanese Army who commanded an...