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Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, also known as Formosa, lies between the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south. It has an area of 35,808 square kilometres (13,826 square miles), with mountain ranges dominating the eastern two-thirds and plains in the western third, where its highly urbanized population is concentrated. The combined territories under ROC control consist of 168 islands in total covering 36,193 square kilometres (13,974 square miles). The largest metropolitan area is formed by Taipei (the capital), New Taipei City, and Keelung. With around 23.9 million inhabitants, Taiwan is among the most densely populated countries.

Taiwan has been settled for at least 25,000 years. Ancestors of Taiwanese indigenous peoples settled the island around 6,000 years ago. In the 17th century, large-scale Han Chinese immigration began under a Dutch colony and continued under the Kingdom of Tungning, the first predominantly Han Chinese state in Taiwanese history. The island was annexed in 1683 by the Qing dynasty of China and ceded to the Empire of Japan in 1895. The Republic of China, which had overthrown the Qing in 1912 under the leadership of Sun Yat-sen, took control following the surrender of Japan in 1945. The immediate resumption of the Chinese Civil War resulted in the loss of the Chinese mainland to Communist forces, who established the People's Republic of China and the flight of the ROC central government to Taiwan in 1949. The effective jurisdiction of the ROC has since been limited to Taiwan, Penghu, and smaller islands.

The early 1960s saw rapid economic growth and industrialization called the "Taiwan Miracle". In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the ROC transitioned from a one-party state under martial law to a multi-party democracy, with democratically elected presidents beginning in 1996. Taiwan's export-oriented economy is the 21st-largest in the world by nominal GDP and the 20th-largest by PPP measures, with a focus on steel, machinery, electronics, and chemicals manufacturing. Taiwan is a developed country. It is ranked highly in terms of civil liberties, healthcare, and human development.

The political status of Taiwan is contentious. Despite being a founding member, the ROC no longer represents China as a member of the United Nations after UN members voted in 1971 to recognize the PRC instead. The ROC maintained its claim of being the sole legitimate representative of China and its territory until 1991, when it ceased to regard the Chinese Communist Party as a rebellious group and acknowledged its control over mainland China. Taiwan is claimed by the PRC, which refuses to establish diplomatic relations with countries that recognise the ROC. Taiwan maintains official diplomatic relations with 11 out of 193 UN member states and the Holy See. Many others maintain unofficial diplomatic ties through representative offices and institutions that function as de facto embassies and consulates. International organizations in which the PRC participates either refuse to grant membership to Taiwan or allow it to participate on a non-state basis. Domestically, the major political contention is between parties favoring eventual Chinese unification and promoting a pan-Chinese identity, contrasted with those aspiring to formal international recognition and promoting a Taiwanese identity; in the 21st century, both sides have moderated their positions to broaden their appeal. (Full article...)

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The island of Taiwan, together with the Penghu Islands, became an annexed territory of the Empire of Japan in 1895, when the Qing dynasty ceded Fujian-Taiwan Province in the Treaty of Shimonoseki after the Japanese victory in the First Sino-Japanese War. The consequent Republic of Formosa resistance movement on Taiwan was defeated by Japan with the capitulation of Tainan. Japan ruled Taiwan for 50 years. Its capital was located in Taihoku (Taipei) led by the Governor-General of Taiwan.

Taiwan was Japan's first colony and can be viewed as the first step in implementing their "Southern Expansion Doctrine" of the late 19th century. Japanese intentions were to turn Taiwan into a showpiece "model colony" with much effort made to improve the island's economy, public works, industry, cultural Japanization (1937 to 1945), and support the necessities of Japanese military aggression in the Asia-Pacific. Japan established monopolies and by 1945, had taken over all the sales of opium, salt, camphor, tobacco, alcohol, matches, weights and measures, and petroleum in the island. Most Taiwanese children did not attend schools established by Japan until primary education was made mandatory in 1943. (Full article...)

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Chan at the 2019 French Open

Latisha Chan (born 17 August 1989), formerly known by her Chinese name Chan Yung-jan (Chinese: 詹詠然; pinyin: Zhān Yǒngrán; Taiwanese Mandarin: [tsán jʊ̀ŋ zǎn, -lǎn]), is a Taiwanese professional tennis player who is a former world No. 1 in doubles. She has won 33 career titles in doubles, including a Grand Slam title at the 2017 US Open alongside Martina Hingis, as well as nine at WTA 1000-level. Chan also finished runner-up at three other Grand Slam events, the 2007 and 2015 Australian Open, and the 2007 US Open. In mixed doubles, she has won three Grand Slam titles: the 2018 French Open, 2019 French Open, and 2019 Wimbledon Championships, all with Ivan Dodig. Highlights of her singles career include reaching the semifinals at the 2006 Japan Open and the final at the Bangkok Open in 2007. She reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 50 on 11 June 2007, and became world No. 1 in doubles on 23 October 2017, the second Taiwanese player to do so, after Hsieh Su-wei. She again topped the doubles rankings on 13 August 2018, and has spent a total of 34 weeks as world No. 1. (Full article...)

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Tsai Ing-wen Cheng Yen Chen Yi (Kuomintang) Teresa Teng Tsai Wan-lin Wang Jinping (scholar and activist) Jay Chou Ang Lee S.H.E Lee Teng-hui Justin Huang Chiau Wen-yan Kao Chin Su-mei Wu Nien-jen Wu Zhaonan

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Yehliu in Wanli, New Taipei is a Miocene formation stretching 1,700 meters into the Ocean resulting from geological forces pushing the Datun Mountains out of the sea.

Photo credit: User:Chensiyuan

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This is a Good article, an article that meets a core set of high editorial standards.

Mei-Ann Chen (traditional Chinese: 陳美安; simplified Chinese: 陈美安; pinyin: Chén Měi-ān; born 1973) is a Taiwanese-American conductor. She is currently music director of the Chicago Sinfonietta and conductor laureate of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. (Full article...)

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Dutch pacification campaign on Formosa Chen Chi-mai EVA Air Chai Trong-rong Taiwan High Speed Rail Pe̍h-ōe-jī Hsu Tain-tsair You Are the Apple of My Eye

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Did you know - show different entries

... that the Sakizaya people, a Taiwanese aboriginal tribe, has been recognized by the government of Taiwan since January 2007?

... that the Cheng Kung Senior High School, previously known as the Taihoku Prefecture Second Middle School, is renamed after Koxinga?

... that Tsungming Tu, founder of the Kaohsiung Medical College, was the first Taiwanese medical doctor?

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General images

The following are images from various Taiwan-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1The Dharmachakra represents the Noble Eightfold Path. (from Culture of Taiwan)
Image 2Japanese painting of the expedition forces attacking the Mudan tribe, 1874 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 3Entrance hall of a K-TV in Taipei (from Culture of Taiwan)
Image 4Bunun dancer in traditional aboriginal dress (1989) (from Culture of Taiwan)
Image 5Territory controlled by Koxinga, founder of the Kingdom of Tungning (from History of Taiwan)
Image 6Administrative units of Taiwan under the Qing dynasty in 1685 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 7Yin and Yang symbol of Taoism (from Culture of Taiwan)
Image 8Apo Hsu and the NTNU Symphony Orchestra on stage in the National Concert Hall in Taipei and Play Saint-Saens's Organ Symphony No. 3 (from Culture of Taiwan)
Image 9Conquest of Douliumen (Zhuluo) (from History of Taiwan)
Image 10The Qing Empire in 1820, with provinces in yellow, military governorates and protectorates in light yellow, tributary states in orange. (from History of Taiwan)
Image 11Sky Lantern festival in Pingxi, Taiwan (from Culture of Taiwan)
Image 12Mid-17th century portrait of Koxinga (Guoxingye or "Kok seng ia" in southern Fujianese), "Lord of the Imperial Surname" (from History of Taiwan)
Image 13Section of Kangxi period painting of Taiwan, 1684–1722 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 141901 map with red line marking approximate boundary separating territory under actual Japanese administration from "Savage District" (from History of Taiwan)
Image 15Evacuation of Keelung by the French forces, image created 1887 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 16Portrait of Zheng Jing (1642–1681), possibly 17th c. (from History of Taiwan)
Image 17Photo from Savages of Formosa, a 1926 government report on tribal life in Taiwan (from History of Taiwan)
Image 18Statue of Chen Di in Lianjiang County (from History of Taiwan)
Image 19Population density map of Taiwan in 2019 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 20Taichung Middle School in 1919 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 21Bird's eye view of Fort Zeelandia in Dutch Formosa in the 17th-century (from History of Taiwan)
Image 22Pearl milk tea (from Culture of Taiwan)
Image 23Administrative units of Taiwan under the Qing dynasty by 1894 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 24The Capture of Lin Shuangwen (from History of Taiwan)
Image 25Administrative units of Taiwan under the Qing dynasty in 1734 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 26Map showing the Revolt of the Three Feudatories (1673–1681) (from History of Taiwan)
Image 27Woodcut of the mass killings which took place during the February 28 Incident (from History of Taiwan)
Image 28Map of Taiwan with the western coast pointed downwards, c. 1640 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 29Original geographic distributions of Taiwanese aboriginal peoples (from History of Taiwan)
Image 30Siege of Fort Zeelandia (from History of Taiwan)
Image 31Severed heads of Seediq rebels (from History of Taiwan)
Image 32Departure of a Ryukyuan ship bearing tribute to Beijing, 1831 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 33Chinese depiction of Chikan (Fort Provintia), 1752 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 34Shi Lang (1621–1696) in an 18th-century painting (from History of Taiwan)
Image 35Section of a painting depicting daily life of the Taokas people, 1684–1722 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 36The Imperial Guard Defeats the Enemy in Hard Fighting at Keelung on the Island of Taiwan, 1895 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 37The original flag of the Taiwanese People's Party, 2 January 1929 – 6 October 1929 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 38Two 7-Eleven stores opposite each other on a crossroad. Taiwan has the highest density of 7-Eleven stores per person in the world (from Culture of Taiwan)
Image 39Taiwan in the 17th century, showing Dutch (magenta) and Spanish (green) possessions, and the Kingdom of Middag (orange) (from History of Taiwan)
Image 40A map of the Empire of Japan including Taiwan ("barbarian land" in red) in 1895 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 41Zheng Keshuang (from History of Taiwan)
Image 42Map of Asia showing the "Chinese Empire" (1892) (from History of Taiwan)
Image 43Depiction of Qing ships crossing the ocean to suppress the Lin Shuangwen rebellion, 1787–1788 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 44Kagi Shrine, one of many Shinto shrines built in Taiwan. (from History of Taiwan)
Image 45Takasago Volunteers in October 1944 (from History of Taiwan)
Image 46Depiction of a Chinese man, woman, and soldier, by Georg Franz Müller (1646–1723) (from History of Taiwan)
Image 47Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Prime Minister Winston Churchill met at the Cairo Conference in Cairo, 25 November 1943. (from History of Taiwan)

On this day...

More November anniversaries

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In the news

16 November 2024 – APEC Peru 2024: At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru, outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping for their final meeting before Biden leaves office on January 20th. During the meeting, Biden and Xi talk about topics like cyber crime, trade, Taiwan, and Russia. Xi also said that his team will work with the incoming Trump administration. (Reuters)
17 October 2024 – South Africa–Taiwan relations: The Government of South Africa orders Taiwan to relocate its representative office from the South African capital of Pretoria, allegedly due to pressure from China. (Focus Taiwan)

Topics

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Administrative divisions

The Republic of China government governs 22 administrative divisions
The administrative divisions presently consist of 13 counties, 6 special municipalities and three cities.


Chiayi City	Chiayi County	Changhua County	Hsinchu City	Hsinchu County

Hualian County	Kaohsiung City	Keelung City	Kinmen Country	Lienchang County

Miaoli County	Nantou County	New Taipei City	Penghu County	Pingtung County

Taichung City	Tainan City	Taipei City	Taitung County	Taoyuan City

Yilan County	Yunlin County

Related portals

East Asia

Southeast Asia

Portals listed here are related to Taiwan by way of history, Asian region, diplomatic relations with ROC, and significant diaspora of overseas Taiwanese

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