Taiwan is an island 180 kilometers (100 miles) southeast of the China mainland, south of Japan, and north of the Philippines.
Taiwanese aborigines are the indigenous peoples of the island of Taiwan. Although each group holds a variety of creation stories, contemporary research suggests their ancestors may have been living on the islands for approximately 8,000 years before major Han Chinese immigration began in the middle of the last millennium.
In 1517, a Portuguese discovery ship were the first Europeans to view the island. They named it "Ilha Formosa", or "Beautiful Island" in Portuguese. The name "Formosa" remained in common use among English speakers into the 20th century.
Formosa was occupied by the Dutch from the 1620s, until the Chinese general Koxinga seized the island at the Siege of Fort Zeelandia, which ended on February 1, 1662.
In 1683, following the defeat of Koxinga's grandson by an armada led by Admiral Shi Lang of southern Fujian, the Qing dynasty formally annexed Formosa. Use of the current Chinese name Taiwan was formalized the following year with the establishment of Taiwan Prefecture. Through its rapid development the entire Formosan mainland eventually became known as "Taiwan."
Taiwan was ceded to Japan from Qing China under the terms of the April 17, 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki, following the Sino-Japanese war. Tang Ching-sung was its first president. The island was not regained by China until the Japanese surrender in August 1945.
The Taiwan flag was first used in mainland China as the Navy flag in 1912 and was made the official national flag of the Republic of China (ROC) in 1928 by the Kuomintang (KMT). It was adopted as the official flag of Taiwan on October 25, 1945. The flag is no longer used in mainland China following the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
During the 1970s the Taiwanese government was forced to adjust to rapid external changes as the USA adopted a new policy of detente towards communist China. This culminated in January 1979 in the full normalization of Sino-American relations, and the severing of American-Taiwanese diplomatic contacts. Other Western Nations followed suit and ended diplomatic relations with Taiwan during the 1970s and early 1980s.
As minister of economic affairs from 1969 to 1978 and Premier of the Republic of China from 1978 to 1984, Sun Yun-suan was credited for overseeing the transformation of Taiwan from being a mainly agricultural economy to an export powerhouse.
When president Chiang Ching-kuo died of a heart attack at age 77 on January 13, 1988, he was succeeded by Lee Teng-hui who became the first Taiwan native to become president of the Republic of China.
In March 2004, China's government passed the Anti-Secession Law, which required the Chinese military to invade Taiwan immediately if they declare independence. The law demonstrated China's concern over a growing move towards independence by the government of Taiwan.
The world's then tallest building, the Taipei 101 was built in Tapei, Taiwan in 2004. It held the world record for skyscraper height until 2010.
While Taiwan still exists, it is not always considered an independent country, despite being self-governing. Taiwan is officially called the Republic of China (ROC) and The People's Republic of China has consistently claimed sovereignty over the island and asserted the ROC is no longer in legitimate existence. However a number of countries maintain official ties with the ROC and many other states maintain unofficial ties through representative offices and institutions that function as de facto embassies and consulates.
Taiwan competes at the Olympic Games as "Chinese Taipei."
Taiwan is the most populous state and largest economy that is not a member of the United Nations.
There is a Hello Kitty-themed hospital in Taiwan.
There is a chain of toilet-themed restaurants in Taiwan serving food in miniature toilet bowls.
Taiwan was the first country to offer free Wi-Fi to all tourists through over 4,000 hotspots all over the island.
Taiwan is mostly mountainous in the east. It's highest point is Yu Shan (Jade Mountain), which is 3,952 meters high (12,966 ft). There are five other peaks over 3,500 meters.
Mandarin is the language of government and education in Taiwan.
Source Hutchinson Encyclopedia
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| Location map of Taiwan. Wikipedia |
HISTORY
Taiwanese aborigines are the indigenous peoples of the island of Taiwan. Although each group holds a variety of creation stories, contemporary research suggests their ancestors may have been living on the islands for approximately 8,000 years before major Han Chinese immigration began in the middle of the last millennium.
In 1517, a Portuguese discovery ship were the first Europeans to view the island. They named it "Ilha Formosa", or "Beautiful Island" in Portuguese. The name "Formosa" remained in common use among English speakers into the 20th century.
Formosa was occupied by the Dutch from the 1620s, until the Chinese general Koxinga seized the island at the Siege of Fort Zeelandia, which ended on February 1, 1662.
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| Fort Zeelandia, the Governor's residence in Dutch Formosa |
In 1683, following the defeat of Koxinga's grandson by an armada led by Admiral Shi Lang of southern Fujian, the Qing dynasty formally annexed Formosa. Use of the current Chinese name Taiwan was formalized the following year with the establishment of Taiwan Prefecture. Through its rapid development the entire Formosan mainland eventually became known as "Taiwan."
Taiwan was ceded to Japan from Qing China under the terms of the April 17, 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki, following the Sino-Japanese war. Tang Ching-sung was its first president. The island was not regained by China until the Japanese surrender in August 1945.
The Taiwan flag was first used in mainland China as the Navy flag in 1912 and was made the official national flag of the Republic of China (ROC) in 1928 by the Kuomintang (KMT). It was adopted as the official flag of Taiwan on October 25, 1945. The flag is no longer used in mainland China following the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
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| Taiwan flag |
In December 1949 Taiwan became the refuge for the Chinese nationalist government forces of Chiang Kai-shek which were compelled to evacuate the mainland after their defeat by the Communist troops of Mao Zedong. Chiang and his nationalist followers, though only a 15 percent minority, dominated the island and maintained an army of 60,0000 in the hope of re conquering the mainland. They continued to be recognized by the USA as the legitimate government of China, and occupied China's United Nations and Security Council seats until October 1971 when they were expelled and replaced by the People's Republic.
Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Taiwan in June 1960 and an estimated 650,000 people packed into the Presidential Plaza to hear the American president. He lauded President Chiang for his courage and tireless effort in leading the nation in the struggle against inhuman tyranny.
Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Taiwan in June 1960 and an estimated 650,000 people packed into the Presidential Plaza to hear the American president. He lauded President Chiang for his courage and tireless effort in leading the nation in the struggle against inhuman tyranny.
The picture below shows President Chiang Kai-shek and the US President Dwight D. Eisenhower waving to crowds during his visit to Taiwan's capital Taipei in June 1960.
During the 1970s the Taiwanese government was forced to adjust to rapid external changes as the USA adopted a new policy of detente towards communist China. This culminated in January 1979 in the full normalization of Sino-American relations, and the severing of American-Taiwanese diplomatic contacts. Other Western Nations followed suit and ended diplomatic relations with Taiwan during the 1970s and early 1980s.
As minister of economic affairs from 1969 to 1978 and Premier of the Republic of China from 1978 to 1984, Sun Yun-suan was credited for overseeing the transformation of Taiwan from being a mainly agricultural economy to an export powerhouse.
When president Chiang Ching-kuo died of a heart attack at age 77 on January 13, 1988, he was succeeded by Lee Teng-hui who became the first Taiwan native to become president of the Republic of China.
In March 2004, China's government passed the Anti-Secession Law, which required the Chinese military to invade Taiwan immediately if they declare independence. The law demonstrated China's concern over a growing move towards independence by the government of Taiwan.
The world's then tallest building, the Taipei 101 was built in Tapei, Taiwan in 2004. It held the world record for skyscraper height until 2010.
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| View of Taipei City, the capital of Taiwan, including the Tapei 101. Wikipedia. |
FUN TAIWAN FACTS
While Taiwan still exists, it is not always considered an independent country, despite being self-governing. Taiwan is officially called the Republic of China (ROC) and The People's Republic of China has consistently claimed sovereignty over the island and asserted the ROC is no longer in legitimate existence. However a number of countries maintain official ties with the ROC and many other states maintain unofficial ties through representative offices and institutions that function as de facto embassies and consulates.
Taiwan competes at the Olympic Games as "Chinese Taipei."
Taiwan is the most populous state and largest economy that is not a member of the United Nations.
There is a Hello Kitty-themed hospital in Taiwan.
There is a chain of toilet-themed restaurants in Taiwan serving food in miniature toilet bowls.
Taiwan was the first country to offer free Wi-Fi to all tourists through over 4,000 hotspots all over the island.
Taiwan is mostly mountainous in the east. It's highest point is Yu Shan (Jade Mountain), which is 3,952 meters high (12,966 ft). There are five other peaks over 3,500 meters.
Mandarin is the language of government and education in Taiwan.
Source Hutchinson Encyclopedia
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