There are over 1,500 missiles currently pointed from mainland China towards Taiwan...just in case it declares independence. China sees the island as its territory, but Taiwan as a whole does not want that. As frustrating as it has become, the fight for Taiwan's independence has been going on for decades, and--of course--poses a complicated problem for the world's nations seeking to create ties with both Taiwan and China's booming economies. Formosa Betrayed examines this subject and will be a refreshing education to those who are not familiar with it. A proficient, focused thriller, it begins as a cookie-cutter whodunit and evolves into an informative, interesting interpretation of the complex Taiwan-China relationship. The film also questions the United States' stand on the matter. Is it fair that the America can be obligated to "help defend" Taiwan from the Chinese if under attack, yet refuse to recognize the island as a sovereign nation? Director Adam Kane and writer/producer Will Tiao (who also stars in the film) educate viewers about the Formosa conflict ("Formosa" means "beautiful" in Portuguese; the island's original name was "Ilha Formosa") through a story about American FBI agent Jake Kelly (James Van Der Beek) and his investigation of the brutal murder of a Taiwanese-American professor on U.S. soil. With the help of his FBI partner (John Heard) and a Chicago police detective (Leslie Hope), Kelly discovers that the killers have fled to Taiwan. Kelly travels overseas to assist the Taiwanese government's search for the killers. Initially guided by an American diplomat (Wendy Crewson) and a Taiwanese official (Tzi Ma), Kelly quickly realizes that there are more complex issues than meet the eye, and that he's not particularly welcome there. Reluctantly, the agent finds himself on a collision course with the U.S. State Department, the Chinese Mafia, and the highest levels of the Chinese government in Taiwan. James Van Der Beek has come a long ways since his time spent on Dawson's Creek...not that his claim-to-fame teen drama gave him much of an opportunity to flex his acting muscles. Still, his stellar performance in Formosa Betrayed is almost surprising, demonstrating the talent of a mature, sophisticated performer. As a leading man, Van Der Beek carries the film on his shoulders, and never lets it fall. Delivering a morally complex and psychologically taut performance, his work in Formosa should guarantee him future roles as an action star. Directed with skill and precision, Formosa Betrayed never feels like a heavy handed history lesson, mostly because Kane treats the film like a thriller, not as a political drama. It would be easy to get wrapped up in the political debates surrounding the topic, but he avoids those temptations and focuses most of his energy on suspense, mystery, and action, all of which are well-woven into the screenplay. There are times when the film stumbles over dialogue, which isn't as well-written as the action, and the final scenes are overly melodramatic. But overall, Formosa Betrayed is engaging and informative, and it leaves you with a sense that you did something productive while watching a movie: You learned something.