Unit 2: Reading
Taiwanese History
Taiwan has been a de facto nation since 1949, when Chiang Kai-Shek and his KMT supporters fled from a civil war in mainland China to establish a government in Taipei. The conflict between Taiwan and communist-controlled mainland China has yet to be resolved. Even today relations between Beijing and Taipei are rough, though economic ties between both countries are close in many ways.
Now with a population of over twenty million, Taiwan stands an important player in the world's economy. It is a leader in the field of computer parts and is well known for its electronic appliances, textiles, and plastics. In recent decades, the standard of living of in Taiwan has improved significantly. Once considered part of the Third World, it has joined South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia as one of Asia's "Little Tigers".
For much of its history, parts of it have been controlled by foreign powers. It was loosely part of the Chinese Empire as early as 1206, when Genghis Khan founded the Yuan Dynasty. The Portuguese, impressed by the beauty of Taiwan's main island, named it Ilha Formosa, or "Beautiful Island". Arriving here in 1517, they controlled the coastal cities of Taiwan until 1624, when the Dutch took power. The Dutch established a capital in what is now Tainan. From 1626 - 1646 the Spanish controlled some coastal parts of northern Taiwan and established a fort in Chitung. The Dutch, however, kicked them out and controlled most of the coastal areas of Taiwan until 1661, when Cheng Chung-Kung (also known as Koxinga) expelled them.
Despite these foreign invasions, Taiwan has a strong Chinese character due to a steady migration of Chinese from the 15th century on. Today 98% of Taiwan's residents are ethnic Chinese and 2% are aboriginal people.
In 1682 to the Manchus tightened their control of Taiwan, which then became part of Fujian province. In 1895, both Taiwan and Korea fell under Japanese rule after China's defeat in the Sino-Japanese War. For fifty years, Japan controlled Taiwan, against the wishes of many local residents. While Japanese rule was often strict, Japan did develop Taiwan substantially. Even today, many Taiwanese are influenced by Japanese trends.
After Japan's defeat in World War II, Taiwan was returned to China. The KMT ruled Taiwan as a one-party state until 1979, when some democratic reforms began. Opposition parties were permitted and democratic elections for many offices were held. Today there are there main parties in Taiwan: the Koumintang (KMT), the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and the New Party (NP).
Though Taiwan doesn't have the diplomatic recognition it wants, it is a positive example of Asian success in some ways .- Mark Shaerf and Tim Newfields
copyright (c) 1999 by Ming Chuan University
Ver. 2.4 - Updated 25 Feb. 1999
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