Taiwan

Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC;

Chinese: 中華⺠國 ; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó), is a Republic of China
region and country in East Asia. Not to be confused with
the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Republic of
中華⺠國
Zhōnghuá Mínguó[a]
China (Taiwan) once governed all of China (from 1911 -
1949), but relocated to the island of Taiwan following a
Chinese civil war. In the years since, the PRC has become
the recognized government of China (replacing the ROC at
the UN in 1971), and the status of the ROC has been left
unclear.
Flag Emblem
The country of Taiwan comprises the island of Taiwan
plus nearby islands (Pescadores islands and parts of
Anthem: 中 國國
Zhōnghuá Mínguó guógē
Fujian). Taiwan is located southeast of the People's "National Anthem of the Republic of
Republic of China's mainland, south of Japan, and north of China"
the Philippines. The capital is Taipei.
0:00 / 0:00
Taiwan has also been called Formosa, a Portuguese name
which means "beautiful" in Portuguese.

The largest cities in Taiwan are the capital, Taipei, and the
Flag anthem: 中 國國
Zhōnghuá Míngúo Gúoqígē
port city of Kaohsiung. "National Flag Anthem of the Republic of
China"
Most people living in Taiwan (called Taiwanese) are Han.
Taiwan has three large Han groups. They speak different 0:00 / 0:00
dialects of Chinese and their ancestors came from different
places: the Southern Fujianese (from China's Fujian
National seal
Province), the Hakka (from China), and Mainlanders (from
Mainland China after 1948).
中 國 璽
"Seal of the Republic of China"
There are also Taiwanese Aborigines who have lived in
Taiwan before the Han came to live there.

Contents National flower

History
Status of Taiwan Plum blossom

Geography
Cities
Notes
References
Related pages
History
In 1517, A discovery ship of Portuguese saw this
island and names it "Ilha Formosa", or "Beautiful
Island" in Portuguese.

17th century: From 1624 until 1661 Dutch

colonize the southern part of Formosa and
established a colonial administration in Fort
Zeelandia, and the Spanish colonize the north
and established a colonial administration in
Fuerte Santo Domingo or Fort Santo Domingo.
The Dutch eventually defeated the Spaniards
and took full control of Formosa. A Chinese
general named Koxinga, defeated the Dutch at
the Siege of Fort Zeelandia.
1860: Taiwan becomes a treaty port following the
Treaty of Tientsin, opening the island to contact
with the world.
1874: Japan invaded southern Taiwan,
seemingly to "punish" the aborigines there for the
murder of ship-wrecked Okinawan fishermen in
1871, but actually to establish a colony.
Japanese forces withdraw later in the year after
the Meiji and Qing empires nearly went to war.
1884-1885: Taiwan is blockaded by French navy
during the Sino-Franco War.
1895: Qing China lost the First Sino-Japanese
War and gave Taiwan to Japan permanently.
1911: The Xinhai Revolution ended China's last
imperial dynasty, the Qing dynasty, and led to the
establishment of the Republic of China.
1927: Start of the Chinese Civil War between the Capital Taipei[b][2]
Kuomintang (KMT) party and the Communist 25°04′N 121°31′E
Party of China (CCP). The war would later be put Largest city New Taipei
on hold, so the two sides could fight Japan
together during World War II. Official languages None designated
(de jure)
1945: Japan lost in World War II to U.S. and gave
up Taiwan permanently. Mandarin (de
1947: Taiwanese widely protest governmental facto)[3]
corruption under the Nationalists. Chiang Kai-
shek sends in the army to restore order, killing Vernacular Chinese
(used in formal or
tens of thousands. Some Taiwanese began the
ceremonial
Taiwan independence movement. occasions, religious
1949: or cultural rites,
official documents,
The Nationalists (KMT) lose the civil war, legal and court
which resumed after World War II, and rulings and judiciary
escape to the island of Taiwan. They set up documents)[4]
Taipei as the temporary capital of Republic of Official script Traditional
China (ROC). Chinese[5]
The Communist Party of China (CCP)
National Formosan
establishes Beijing as the capital of The languages[d]
 People's Republic of China (PRC). languages[6]
1951: Japan signs the Treaty of San Francisco Hakka[7]
(1951) with U.S. Hokkien[c]
1971: Taiwan is expelled from the United Nations Mandarin[c]
and replaced with the PRC Matsu[c]
1979: The KMT government jails many Taiwan Sign
democracy activists who opposed it (Kaohsiung Language
Incident).
Ethnic groups >95% Han
1986: The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taiwanese
is formed; it is the first party to form in the ROC —70% Hoklo
other than the KMT. It remains illegal for the first —14% Hakka
year, but the KMT government does not try to ban —14%
it. Waishengren
2% Indigenous[9][e]
1987: The KMT government lifts the martial law
after almost 40 years. Religion 43.8% Chinese folk
1988: Lee Teng-hui (KMT) became president religion (including
after Chiang Ching-kuo is dead. Confucianism)
21.2% Buddhism
1995: Lee Teng-hui (KMT) became the first
president elected by people. 15.5% Others
(including Taoism)
2000: Li Shui-bian (DPP) became president. 13.7% Unaffiliated
2000: Chen Shui-bian (DPP) became president. 5.8% Christianity[10]
2004: Chen Shui-bian is re-elected after a
controversial assassination attempt, in which Demonym(s) Taiwanese[11]
many KMT-supporters believed, was staged by Government Unitary semi-
Chen. However, after unwillingness to cooperate presidential
about his medical records the investigation was constitutional
inconclusive. republic
2008: Former president Chen Sui-bian and his • President Tsai Ing-wen
wife are arrested for corruption and money • Vice President Lai Ching-te
laundering. • Premier Su Tseng-chang
2008: Ma Ying-jeou (KMT) was elected as the • Legislative Yuan Yu Shyi-kun
president of the Republic of China and thus President
creating a change of political parties for the • Control Yuan Chen Chu
second time. President
• Judicial Yuan Hsu Tzong-li
2009: Kaohsiung hosts the 2009 World Games. President
2016: Tsai Ing-wen (DPP) was elected as the first • Examination Huang Jong-tsun
female president of Taiwan. Yuan President
2019: same sex marriage was legalized[20] Legislature Legislative Yuan
Formation
Status of Taiwan • Establishment 1 January 1912
• Took control of 25 October 1945
Taiwan
There are two Chinese governments in the world: The
• Constitution 25 December 1947
People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of adopted
China (ROC). Today, in reality, the PRC government • Government 7 December 1949
controls mainland China, and the ROC government moved to Taipei
governs Taiwan. The ROC government governed most of • Status defined by 16 July 1992
China mainland from 1911 to 1949, before losing control law
of China mainland to the PRC. The ROC constitution still Area
claims ownership of all of China, however in recent years • Total 36,197 km2
this is rarely mentioned. (13,976 sq mi)[12][11]
Although Taiwan's status prevents it from participating in Population
some international organizations, polls show that most • 2020 estimate 23,568,378[13]
Taiwanese prefer to keep things as they are (referred to as (56th)
the status quo), rather than declare formal independence • 2010 census 23,123,866[14]
(and risk inviting an attack by communist China), or to be • Density 650/km2
"reunified" with China. (1,683.5/sq mi)
(10th)
Most countries of the world recognize the People's GDP (PPP) 2021 estimate
Republic of China as China. Even though Taiwan is not • Total $1.403 trillion[15]
recognized by the UN as a sovereign nation,[21] most (19th)
countries still have close economic and cultural relations • Per capita $56,959[15] (13th)
with Taiwan. Countries often set up de-facto embassies in GDP (nominal) 2021 estimate
Taiwan -- officially non-government organizations -- that • Total
perform the same functions as an embassy. $682.702 billion[15]
(21st)
In 1992, the ROC and PRC agreed to a Consensus that • Per capita $32,123[16] (29th)
there was only "one China" but that both sides could
continue to disagree on what that meant. Gini (2017) 34.1[17]
medium
In March 2004, China's government passed a law called HDI (2019) 0.916[18]
the Anti-Secession Law. The law requires the Chinese very high · 23rd
military to invade Taiwan immediately if they declare
Currency New Taiwan dollar
independence.[22] Tsai Ing-wen, the elected President of (NT$) (TWD)
Taiwan, says Taiwan is already an independent country
Time zone UTC+8 (National
and does not need to declare independence. [23] Standard Time)
President of communist China, President Xi Jinping, has Date format
vowed "reunification" with Taiwan by any means, YYYY-MM-DD
including through military force. [24] Joe Biden, President YYY-MM-DD
(Minguo
of The United States, has said that the US will defend calendar)
Taiwan from Chinese attack. [25]. Australia has said they
would join the USA [26], and Japan has indicated they may Mains electricity 110 V–60 Hz[f]
as well. Driving side right
Calling code +886
Geography ISO 3166 code TW

The island of Taiwan is about 180 kilometers off the Internet TLD .tw
southeastern coast of China. It is across the Taiwan Strait. .台灣
It has an area of 35,883 km2 (13,855 sq mi).[27] .台湾 [19]

The East China Sea is to the north, the Philippine Sea to the east, the Luzon Strait directly to the south and
the South China Sea to the southwest.[28]

Taiwan's highest point is Yu Shan (Jade Mountain). It is 3,952 meters high (12,966 ft). There are five other
peaks over 3,500 meters.

The Penghu Islands are 50 km (31.1 mi) west of the main island. They have an area of 126.9 km2
(49.0 sq mi). More distant islands controlled by the Republic of China are the Kinmen, Wuchiu and Matsu
Islands off the coast of Fujian. They have a total area of 180.5 km2 (69.7 sq mi). The Pratas Islands and
Taiping Island in the South China Sea have a total area of 2.9 km2 (1.1 sq mi). They have no permanent
inhabitants.[27]
Cities

The largest cities in Taiwan are:

Division Chinese
Rank Type Population
name name

1
New Taipei
City
新北市 Special municipality 3,903,745

2
Kaohsiung
City
⾼雄市 Special municipality 2,772,461

臺中市 (台中
3 Taichung City
市) Special municipality 2,655,456

Taiwan is mostly
臺北市 (台北 mountainous in the east,
4 Taipei City
市) Special municipality 2,635,766
with gently sloping plains in
5 Taoyuan City 桃園市 Special municipality 2,163,728
the west. The Penghu
Islands are west of the main
臺南市 (台南 island.
6 Tainan City
市) Special municipality 1,874,724

7 Hsinchu City 新⽵市 Provincial city 417,335

8 Keelung City 基隆市 Provincial city 381,770

9 Chiayi City 嘉義市 Provincial city 272,128

10
Changhua
City
彰化市 County-controlled
city
236,447

11 Pingtung City 屏東市 County-controlled

city
210,275

12 Zhubei City ⽵北市 County-controlled

city
144,234
Taipei City, the capital of Taiwan.

13 Hualien City 花蓮市 County-controlled

city
108,938

14 Taitung City 臺東市 County-controlled

city
108,648

15 Douliu City ⽃六市 County-controlled

city
107,012

16 Nantou City 南投市 County-controlled

city
104,069

17 Magong ⾺公市 County-controlled

city
104,069

Notes
a. See Names of the Republic of China.
b. Taipei is the official seat of government of the Republic of China although the Constitution of
the Republic of China does not specify the de jure capital.[1]
c. Not designated but meets legal definition
d. A national language in Taiwan is legally defined as "a natural language used by an original
people group of Taiwan and the Taiwan Sign Language".[8]
 e. Mixed indigenous-Han ancestry is included in the figure for Han Chinese.
f. 220 V is also used for high power appliances such as air conditioners

References
1. "Since the implementation of the Act Governing Principles for Editing Geographical
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geographical textbooks was that Taipei was to be marked as the capital with a label stating:
"Location of the Central Government" " (http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/201
3/12/04/2003578264/2). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20191101013333/http://www.
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archives/2013/12/05/2003578356). Taipei Times. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December
2013.
推動雙語國家政策問題研析
3. " " (https://www.ly.gov.tw/Pages/Detail.aspx?nodeid=6590&pid=1
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法律統⼀⽤語表 常⾒公⽂⽤語說明
4. " - " (http://oga.ncu.edu.tw/ncuoga/dispatch/doc/%E5%B8%
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⾏政院第
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parameter |chapterurl= ignored (help)

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