Difference between revisions of "Taiwan"
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| − | '''Taiwan''' (previously known as | + | '''Taiwan''' (previously known as '''Formosa''') is an island nation in East Asia and has served as the seat of the [[Republic of China]] (Free China) since 1949. Known for its natural beauty, the country is 245 miles long and 89 miles wide, with a steep central mountain range and plains on the west coast. |
==History== | ==History== | ||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
==Politics== | ==Politics== | ||
| − | The Taiwanese people enjoy a free market economy, while the democratically elected government provides freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and universal health care. Nevertheless, | + | The Taiwanese people enjoy a free market economy, while the democratically elected government provides freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and universal health care. Nevertheless, the Republic of China has been unsuccessful in its repeated attempts to rejoin the United Nations. During the Cold War, the Republic of China was recognized by most of the world as the sole legitimate government of China and a bastion of freedom against Communist oppression on the mainland. However, the Communist bloc gained enough votes in 1971 to kick Free China out of the UN and the Western bloc derecognized Free China en masse. Under the Democratic administration of Jimmy Carter, the United States broke relations with Free China and established them with Communist China in 1979. In the United States, both Democrat and Republican administrations have blocked the efforts of the Taiwanese people to seek Taiwan’s entry on the world stage and refuse to use its official name - the Republic of China -- in official contexts. |
==Chinese Claim== | ==Chinese Claim== | ||
| − | Though Taiwan posesses all of the characteristics of a sovereign nation, the [[People's Republic of China]] makes a claim to all of Taiwan's territory, and asserts that Taiwan is merely a territory of China. | + | Though Taiwan posesses all of the characteristics of a sovereign nation, the [[People's Republic of China]] makes a claim to all of Taiwan's territory, and asserts that Taiwan is merely a territory of the Communist China. In fact, the Republic of China, which governs Taiwan, was founded in 1912 and predates the Communist regime. It was in 1949 when the Communists, funded by Soviet Russia, succeeded in rebellion that the Nationalists retreated to Taiwan. |
Revision as of 12:52, March 20, 2007
Taiwan (previously known as Formosa) is an island nation in East Asia and has served as the seat of the Republic of China (Free China) since 1949. Known for its natural beauty, the country is 245 miles long and 89 miles wide, with a steep central mountain range and plains on the west coast.
History
Taiwan was governed by Japan from 1894 to 1945. Unlike Japan's occupation of other Asian areas, Nipponese presence in Taiwan was largely beneficial. This civilizing effect of Japanese occupation allowed the people of Taiwan to make great social and technological advances.
Politics
The Taiwanese people enjoy a free market economy, while the democratically elected government provides freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and universal health care. Nevertheless, the Republic of China has been unsuccessful in its repeated attempts to rejoin the United Nations. During the Cold War, the Republic of China was recognized by most of the world as the sole legitimate government of China and a bastion of freedom against Communist oppression on the mainland. However, the Communist bloc gained enough votes in 1971 to kick Free China out of the UN and the Western bloc derecognized Free China en masse. Under the Democratic administration of Jimmy Carter, the United States broke relations with Free China and established them with Communist China in 1979. In the United States, both Democrat and Republican administrations have blocked the efforts of the Taiwanese people to seek Taiwan’s entry on the world stage and refuse to use its official name - the Republic of China -- in official contexts.
Chinese Claim
Though Taiwan posesses all of the characteristics of a sovereign nation, the People's Republic of China makes a claim to all of Taiwan's territory, and asserts that Taiwan is merely a territory of the Communist China. In fact, the Republic of China, which governs Taiwan, was founded in 1912 and predates the Communist regime. It was in 1949 when the Communists, funded by Soviet Russia, succeeded in rebellion that the Nationalists retreated to Taiwan.