Taiwan or Ilha Formosa lies in the Pacific Ocean. The Portuguese sailors discovered Taiwan. Since its discovery, many empires have ruled over Taiwan. Currently, the island is the seat of the government of the Republic of China.
INTRODUCTION
Taiwan is a small island nation located in the western Pacific Ocean. The length of the Island from south to north is 245 miles(395 km). Similarly, Taiwan is 90 miles(145 Km)wide.
Its neighbours are China in the west, the Philippines in the west, and Japan in the northeast. Notably, Taiwan lies roughly 160 km from the southeastern coast of China.
Geographically, the South China Sea borders Taiwan in the north. To the northeast, the Ryukyu Islands (the southernmost part of Japan) surround Taiwan. To the east of Taiwan lies the Pacific Ocean, and to the south lies the Bashi Channel. The Bashi Channel separates it from the Philippines. And to the west lies the Taiwan Strait, which separates it from the Chinese mainland.
Taipei is the capital of Taiwan. To point out, Taipei is the seat of the government of the Republic of China. Additionally, Chinese is the language spoken in Taiwan, and the currency is New Taiwan Dollar.
ETHNICITY IN TAIWAN
The population of Taiwan is composed of a total of 4 ethnic groups.
The groups are:
1. Hoklo(Fukien Taiwanese).
2. Hakka.
- To point out, both Hoklo and Hakka groups are of Han origin.
3. Mainlanders (Chinese who arrived from mainland China in the 1940s).
4. Taiwanese Indigenous peoples(Aboriginals). At present, there are a total of 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes in Taiwan.
The Tribes are:
- Amis, Atayal, Paiwan,Bunun, Puyuma, Rukai, Tsou, Saisiyat, Yami, Thao, Kavalan, Truku, Sakizaya, Sediq, Hla’alua and Kanakanavu.
HISTORY OF TAIWAN: A TIMELINE
1517: THE DISCOVERY OF TAIWAN
During their expedition, the Portuguese sailors crossing the Taiwan Strait recorded Taiwan as “Ilha Formosa” in Portuguese. In English, the word “Ilha Formosa” means beautiful island.
However, the Portuguese didn’t stop on the island, and they didn’t claim the island.
1622: THE DUTCH ARRIVES IN TAIWAN
- 1622– Dutch forces lands on Penghu Island.
- Moreover, a Chinese official offered the Dutch a trading post in Taiwan and other privileges in exchange for leaving Penghu Island.
- 1624– The Dutch East India Company establishes a base in south-western Taiwan. As a result, the DEAC now involves in changing grain production practices. Furthermore, they employ Chinese workers on their sugar and rice plantations.
- 1626– The northern part of Taiwan becomes a Spanish Colony.
- 1642– The Dutch East India Company drives the Spanish East Indies from the northern part of Taiwan. Thus, giving DEAC complete control over entire Taiwan.
1661: SINO-DUTCH WAR
- 1661– A Ming loyalist, Koxinga Zheng Cheng-gong, escapes the Manchurian conquest.
- A battle occurs between the Ming dynasty(1368-1644)and the Dutch East India Company. As a result, Zheng drives the Dutch out of Taiwan. Hence, establishing the authority over Taiwan and ending 40 years of Dutch rule over Taiwan.
1683: QING EMPIRE CONQUERS TAIWAN
- 1683– Qing Empire forces establish control over the western and northern coastal areas of Taiwan.
- 1885– Qing dynasty establishes control over entire Taiwan. Thus, declaring Taiwan a province of the Qing Empire.
1894-1895: SINO-JAPANESE WAR AND TREATY OF SHIMONOSEKI
Sino-Japanese War
(July 1894–April 1895). Source: MIT Visualizing Culture
- 1894-95– A battle occurs between the Qing Empire and the Japanese Empire for supremacy over Korea. Consequently, the war resulted in Japanese victory and Chinese defeat.
- After the loss, the Qing empire(Chinese) signs the Treaty of Shimonoseki.
A few significant clauses as per the treaty were:
- Firstly, China had to recognize Korea’s independence.
- To point out, China had suzerainty over Korea, traditionally.
- Secondly, China had to give up Taiwan, the Pescadores Islands, and the Liaodong (South Manchurian)Peninsula to Japan.
- Thirdly, China had to pay 200,000,000 taels to Japan as indemnity.
- Lastly, China had to open the ports of Shashi, Chongqing, Suzhou, and Hangzhou to Japanese trade.
To Highlight, Japan ruled over Taiwan till 1945.
1911: XINHAI REVOLUTION
- Around 1911-1912, Xinhai Revolution took place in Mainland China.
- Under the Xinhai revolution, Chinese revolutionaries overthrew the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, creating a Republic and establishing the ROC(Republic of China).
1943: WORLD WAR II BEGINS
1943: CAIRO DECLARATION
In December 1943, ROC leader Chiang Kai-shek met with British PM Winston Churchill and US President Franklin Roosevelt in Cairo. Thus, resulting in the issuance of the Cairo declaration after the conclusion of the meeting.
The declaration stated that,
“Formosa [Taiwan], and the Pescadores [the Penghu Islands], shall be restored to the Republic of China.”
1945: POTSDAM DECLARATION
In 1945, the ROC, UK and US demanded the Japanese surrender in Potsdam, Germany. Thus, leading to the issuance of the Postdam Declaration. Furthermore, it ordered the Japanese to follow the Cairo Declaration.
Similarly, General Order No.1 was issued to Japan by Allied forces. As a result, the Japanese surrendered in WW II. Subsequently, the ROC officials accepted the Japanese surrender.
Furthermore, a memorandum was sent by then Chief Executive of Taiwan Province, Chen Yi, to the Japanese governor-general of Taiwan. It stated that,
“As the Chief Executive of Taiwan Province of the ROC,…I restore all legal territory, people, administration, political, economic, and cultural facilities and assets of Taiwan [including the Penghu Islands].”
1947: CIVIL UNREST IN TAIWAN
During the Japanese colonial rule, Taiwan witnessed significant development in infrastructure and economy. Moreover, during the Japanese regime, a rise in the standard of living for Taiwanese people was observed.
Thus, the Taiwanese started believing positive perceptions about Japanese colonial rule.
However, after the Japanese surrender, the Japanese offered governance to the Taiwanese. But the administration of Taiwan got transferred to the ROC ruled by Kuomintang or the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). This transfer led to civil unrest in the island nation.
There were three primary reasons for the civil unrest:
- After Japan’s surrender, the Chief Executive and Governor-General, Chen Yi, took control of the Japanese system of state monopolies on crops and commodities.
- He exploited this control to buy goods and items at low-cost prices and export them to mainland China. By doing this, the ROC sold the products at high profits to meet their civil war shortages.
- The Japanese offered the Taiwanese an opportunity to rule themselves over Taiwan. But the ROC took over the island and filled the government positions from Mainland Chinese officers.
- The unruly ROC soldiers looted and broke down the infrastructure built by the Japanese. Thus, resulting in discontent among Taiwanese people.
Consequently, on the morning of February 28, mass protests began over the discontent over inflation, corruption, and unemployment rates. This protest was known as the 228 incident.
Seeking the 228 incident, a group of local Taiwanese leaders form a 228 incident settlement committee. The committee sent a list of 32 demands to the ROC government. The demands were majorly Provincial administration reforms.
The key demands were:
- Proposal for a greater economy.
- Free elections.
- Ending corruption in governmental institutions.
However, the ROC government rejected the proposal and sent the National army reinforcement to Taiwan. As a result, on March 8, the ROC government ordered a violent crackdown on the uprisings.
Notably, by the end of March, Chen Yi, the governor-general and garrison commander of Taiwan, ordered the imprisonment and execution of all Taiwanese rebel leaders. In fact, after Chen Yi’s order, a total of 3000-4000 people were killed throughout Taiwan.
1949: A HISTORIC YEAR FOR TAIWAN
The civil war between the ROC (Republic of China), and CCP (Chinese Communist Party), ended.
CCP emerged victorious in mainland China. Thus, causing the retreat of ROC leaders to Taiwan, along with 1.2 billion people from mainland China. Therefore, Taiwan came under the ROC rule.
Notably, on May 1949, Li Zongren, the acting president of Taiwan, declared Martial law in Taiwan.
The period of Martial law saw the imposition of the following restriction:
- Ban on the formation of political parties.
- Human rights abuse was rampant on the island.
- Civilians had no freedom of speech and expression.
- The secret police had additional powers to arrest anyone critical of the government. They can also black-list those individuals.
- The secret police were known as the Taiwan Garrison Command.
- The military court was empowered to conduct trials of the arrested civilians.
BATTLE OF KUNINGTOU
On 25 October 1949, The Battle of Kuningtou (Battle of Guningtou) occurred. It is also known as the Battle of Kinmen.
The armed forces of the ROC and CCP fought over Kinmen island, located in the Taiwan Strait. However, in the end, the ROC forces crushed the CCP forces in the battle.
IMPORTANT TREATIES FOR TAIWAN
1951: SAN FRANSISCO PEACE TREATY
In 1951, Japan and 48 Allied Nations (on behalf of the UN) signed a treaty. It was known as the San Francisco Peace Treaty.
As per the Treaty, Japan had to:
- Recognize the Independence of Korea.
- Renounce its rights and titles to Taiwan, the Pescadores, the Kurils, and southern Sakhalin.
- Give up the rights to the Pacific islands.
- The islands were earlier mandated to Japan by the League of Nations.
1952: TREATY OF TAIPEI
In 1952, a peace treaty named the Treaty of Taipei was signed between ROC and Japan at the Taipei Guest House to end the war. Therefore, ending the war between the two nations.
To explain, a few crucial articles of the Treaty were:
- ARTICLE 1
- The state of war between the Republic of China and Japan is terminated from the date on which the present Treaty enters into force.
- ARTICLE 2
- It is recognised that under Article 2 of the Treaty of Peace which Japan signed at the city of San Francisco on 8 September 1951 (hereinafter referred to as the San Francisco Treaty), Japan has renounced all right, title, and claim to Taiwan (Formosa) and Penghu (the Pescadores) as well as the Spratley Islands and the Paracel Islands.
- ARTICLE 4
- It is recognized that all treaties, conventions, and agreements concluded before 9 December 1941 between Japan and China have become null and void as a consequence of the war.
EVENTFUL YEARS IN THE HISTORY OF TAIWAN
POLITICAL HISTORY
Taiwan has two main political factions. The two factions are the Pan-Blue coalition and the Pan-Green coalition.
PAN-BLUE COALITION – Kuomintang (KMT) leads this coalition. KMT Believes that ROC is the only legitimate government of China and favours reunification with the PRC (Mainland China).
PAN-GREEN COALITION – Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leads this coalition. DPP considers Taiwan an independent country. Moreover, the DPP seeks diplomatic recognition and eventual declaration of formal Taiwanese independence.
From 1948 to 2000, the Kuomintang or KMT, the Chinese Nationalist Party, dominated Taiwan. Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of the KMT, was the first President of Taiwan.
1979: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY
Since 1949, Taiwan has been under Martian law. The KMT regime arrested all leaders of opposition parties and charged them with sedition.
Therefore, in December, several pro-democracy leaders organized a human rights day rally in Kaohsiung. However, the police arrested and imprisoned the activist and charged them with sedition. This incident is known as The Kaohsiung Incident or Formosa Incident.
As a result, this crackdown led to the formation of the DPP.
1987: LIFTING OF MARTIAL LAW
On July 14, 1987, President Chiang Ching-Kuo Declared the lifting of martial law. Thus, on the next day, the law was lifted.
The lifting of martial law ended White Terror Period.
To explain, the white terror period is the darkest phase in the history of Taiwan. The period started on Feb 28, 1949, and ended on July 15, 1987. The white terror period devastated Taiwan culturally and historically.
During this period, the ROC, with its aim to unify the entire of China, targeted individuals in Taiwan who were anti-government or had a strong sense of Taiwanese identity.
The lifting of Martial law led to:
- End of the ban on the formation of new political parties.
- Removal of restriction on newspaper publications.
- Initiation of processes to speed up democratization in Taiwan.
- Beginning of exchange of peoples between Cross-Strait.
1990: WILD LILY MOVEMENT AND ITS IMPACT
In March 1990, students began the Wild Lily movement. The movement focussed on democracy through direct elections and the abolishment of Temporary provisions.
Consequently, in 1991, the ROC government declared the abolishment of “The Temporary Provisions and Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion”.
To elaborate, in 1947, Chiang Kai-shek announced the Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion. Similarly, many temporary provisions got added.
The additions ensured one-party rule, white terror and indefinite presidential terms of Ching Kia-shek.
The key elements behind the implementation of “The Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion” announcement were to:
- Protect the people of liberated areas.
- Suppress the CCP and attain constitutional rule in the country.
- Strengthen the unity of the country and ensure the survival of its people.
After the abolishment of temporary provisions, the people of Taiwan had full representation as complete re-election of all Taiwan parliament, including members of the legislative and national assembly.
1992: MUTUAL CONSENSUS BETWEEN KMT AND CCP
In 1992, the representatives of KMT and CCP reached a mutual consensus. Both sides agreed that there is one China, but both governments considered themselves the sole representative of undivided China. However, later on, both parties rejected the consensus on the legal status of Taiwan.
To point out, From 1949 to 1992, ROC (Taiwanese government) and PRC (Chinese government) claimed to represent all of China. Surprisingly, both governments officially claimed each other territory.
Notably, For the PRC, the consensus stated that the two sides of the Straits, both mainland China and Taiwan belong to “One-China” and would work together for its reunification.
Although, Taiwan’s KMT-drafted constitution continues to identify China, Mongolia, Taiwan, Tibet, and the South China Sea as part of the ROC.
However, the KMT does not support the Independence of Taiwan and has close relationships with Beijing. On the contrary, the DPP chief rival of KMT never endorses the 1992 consensus.
1996: FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN TAIWAN
In1996, for the first time in its history, the People of Taiwan elected their President. Since then, there has been a power shift between the DPP and KMT.
In the 1996 elections, the Presidential and VP candidates of KMT, Lee Teng-hui, and Lien Chan got 54% of the vote.
In the 2000 presidential elections, the Presidential and VP candidates, Chen Shui-bian and Annette Hsiu-lien Lu of DPP emerge victorious.
Thus, ending 50 years of rule of the KMT and transferring power to a different political party in Taiwan.
2014: SUNFLOWER MOVEMENT
In February 2014, first time in history, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi and Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office director, Zhang Zhijun, had a formal meeting in Xinjiang.
Thus, making it the first official contact between the government agency head responsible for Cross-Strait relations.
However, in March, the students and individuals from civil groups started the Sunflower movement. During the demonstration, protesters occupied the legislature to oppose the passing of the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement (CSSTA).
As a result, the movement was successful, and CSSTA did not pass.
2016: VICTORY OF TSAI ING-WEN (DPP)
The DPP Chairperson and Presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen won the elections with 56.1% of the votes.
President Tsai, in her inaugural speech, rejected the 1992 consensus. Furthermore, she gave another proposal to China.
“I was elected President in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of China, thus it is my responsibility to safeguard the sovereignty and territory of the Republic of China; The new government will conduct cross-Strait affairs in accordance with the Republic of China Constitution, the Act Governing Relations Between the People of Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, and other relevant legislation.”
President Tsai, in her Inaugural speech
Consequently, the Chinese government rejected this speech and cut off its ties with Taiwan.
ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS
Significantly, in 2019, Xi Jinping repeated the Chinese formula of the “One Country, Two Systems” policy for the reunification of Taiwan.
Source: Council of Foreign Relations
To explain, the “One Country, Two Systems” policy means that the state will be granted a high degree of autonomy and guaranteed its ability to preserve its political and economic system.
To point out, the Chinese promised the same system to Hong Kong. But later on, the Chinese suppressed its autonomy.
As a result, the crackdown on the autonomy of Hong Kong made this formula highly unpopular among Taiwanese citizens. Thus, forcing the rejection of the “One Country, Two Systems” formula by DPP and KMT.
In the 2020 elections, the Presidential candidate, Tsai Ing-wen, and the VP candidate, Lai Ching-te, of DPP won again. Both candidates garnered 57.1 % of the vote. With this victory, The DPP holds the majority in the legislative Yuan of Taiwan (The unicameral legislature of Taiwan).
In 2022, US speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island nation, which angered China.
CONCLUSION: TAIWAN AS A NATION?
Taiwan is a prosperous country with robust democracy and a well-functioning government. Moreover, the economy of Taiwan ranks 21st in the world, as it is the home to the largest semiconductor company, TSMC.
Globally, TSMC leads in the production of the most sophisticated chips. Thus, making it an Asian economic powerhouse.
Surprisingly, as per the Economist Intelligence Unit’s new 2021 Democracy Index, Taiwan ranks as the 8th most powerful democracy in the world and the 2nd largest in Asia.
To sum up, Taiwanese people prefer identifying themselves as Taiwanese rather than Chinese, as Taiwan has existed as an independent entity for more than 70 years. As a result, most of the citizens favour maintaining the status quo.