Complex sentence: In the 1970s, Taiwan government suffered several blows to its international status: first, its seat at the United Nations was taken over by the People's Republic of China, then the United States established official ties with Beijing, severing those with Taipei.
Split into simpler sentences: In the 1970s, Taiwan government suffered several blows to its international status. First, its seat at the United Nations was taken over by the People's Republic of China, then the United States established official ties with Beijing, severing those with Taipei.