|
 In
1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan, however
it reverted
to Chinese control after World War II. Following the Communist
victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to
Taiwan and established a government using the 1947 constitution
drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades, the ruling
authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the native
population within its governing structure. This culminated in 2000,
when Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from
the Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout
this period, the island has prospered to become one of East Asia's
economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue
to be the relationship between Taiwan and China - specifically
the question of eventual unification - as well as domestic political
and economic reform. |
Location:
|
Eastern Asia, islands bordering
the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan
Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of
China
|
Climate:
|
Tropical;
marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August);
cloudiness is persistent
and extensive all year
|
Borders:
|
None
|
| More... |
Taiwan
(China) is the main island of a group of 86 islands. It is
dominated by the Central Mountain Range covering 75 per cent
of its land area and running its full length north to south
on the eastern seaboard. Over 100 peaks exceed 3000m (9850ft),
the highest being Yu Shan (Jade Mountain) at 3952m (13,042ft),
and most are heavily forested. About 25 per cent of the country
is alluvial plain, most of it on the coastal strip. The Pescadores
(Fisherman’s Isles), which the Chinese call Penghu,
comprise 64 islands west of Taiwan (China) with a total area
of 127 sq km (49 sq miles). The offshore island fortress
of Quemoy (Kinmen) and Matsu forms part of the mainland province
of Fukien. |
|
