ambiguous history as part of China but separated
Settled by Chinese, 17-19th cent
Part of Fujian, later a separate province
Colony of Japan, 1895-1945
Return to China, 1945
Politically separate after 1949, claimed
to be official government of China
Taiwan represented China at UN 1949-1972,
until credentials were changed
US recognized Taipei as capital of China
until 1979
Ruled under Chinese 1948 constitution
until around 1990; then constitution was amended and changed
Takeover by KMT (Nationalist) Government and KMT Party, 1945
Feb. 23, 1947 event - massive
slaughter,
repression
1949, government, army moves
in
Rule by martial law and
KMT until the mainland could be liberated from communist bandits (indefinitely)
.
Political social division
between Mainlanders and Taiwan people
Changes mid 1980s
intermarriage blurred mainlander-Taiwanese
cleavage
loss of face and stability
as US recognized mainland government as China
Many people from Taiwan
had studied or lived in US, saw democracy work.
Democratic transition, mid 1980s till now
legalize new opposition
political parties
end martial law
allow freedom of press
local elections, provincial
elections
1996 Presidential election
(Li Teng-hui -- KMT but Taiwanese)
2000 KMT split enables Taiwan's
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to the win presidency (Chen Shui-bian)
2003-4 crisis over referendum -- move towards statehood angers mainland
2004 Chen Shui-bian wins (?) contested election, involving assassination attempt (?) check http://www.truthalliance.org/ another accusation of fraud / attack against fraud argument
contested ballots exceeded margin of victory linkPolitical Line-up in 2005:
pan green: controls presidency
DPP: (Democratic Progressive Party) Chen Shui-bian
Taiwan Solidarity Party Li Deng-hui
Taiwan Independence Party
does not include the "Green Party" (environmentalist)pan blue : controls legislature
KMT: Lien Chan
People First Party, James C.Y. Song
December 2005 Political shake-up
KMT wins local elections,
puts it back in a strong political position detailed
report
Elections,
broader discussion (wiki)
Economic growth
effective use of the ladder
of development, textiles, bicycles
wonderful success in PC
computers, parts, motherboards
now there is a lot of competition
from China
Economic Relations with Mainland - improving a great deal
starting of small trade,
smuggling in early 1990s
trade grew
Taiwan businessmen started
to invest in factories on mainland to access cheaper labor
Taiwanese move to Shanghai,
elsewhere for lower prices, better life style(!)
Political issues are unresolved
as economic and social integration develop
Taiwan - China dilemma
Chen Shui-bian still pushes the envelop of Taiwan's efforts for statehood,
US warns Taiwan of provacative behavior Feb
1,2006
Pan-Blue alliance with majority in congress charges
Chen and wife of large-scale corruption.
politics become tense and even more polarized.