Formosa Betrayed is a feature film about the harassment, torture, and murder of Taiwanese-American activists during the 1980s. Inspired by a true story, the film centers on the murder of a Taiwanese-American professor at the University of Kansas. An American detective—who knows nothing about Taiwan—is assigned to the case. Through the investigation of the professor's murder, the detective begins to understand the complex nature of politics, identity, and power in Taiwan-U.S.-China relations.In his search for the murderer and his accomplices, the detective learns that there is a vast Chinese spy network within most major U.S. college campuses which focuses on the political and social activities of Chinese and Taiwanese-American students. The detective turns to the FBI for help, only to realize that the FBI is aware of this spy network but is unwilling to do anything about it in order to protect U.S. spies in Taiwan and elsewhere.
The detective's search for the murderer takes him across the Midwest onto other college campuses and Chinatowns, and finally to Taiwan, where he learns the real reason for the professor's murder—that the professor was an outspoken advocate of Taiwanese independence, and thus he threatened the legitimacy of Chiang Kai-Shek's government on Taiwan. The hit was sanctioned by those at the highest level of power.
The detective takes this information to the de facto U.S. Embassy in Taipei (American Institute of Taiwan), only to be rebuffed because the issue is "too sensitive" for U.S. foreign policy. He returns to the States, frustrated with his knowledge and lack of power to do anything about it—when he is invited to testify before the U.S. Congress in Washington D.C. and finally given the chance to declare the truth.
Will Tiao, a former intern for the Formosa Association for Public Affairs and founder of Formosa Films LLC, is the executive producer.
Thanks to Henk for the link!
