Taiwan’s 20th Century

Background

• Original population Malayo-Polynesian

• Large scale Chinese immigration from the 16th century

• Part of the Qing empire– Frontier culture with little effective control– Late 19th century

• More integrated (education, social elite etc)• International interest because of natural resources

Japanese Colony

• Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan in 1895

• Japan’s model colony– Scientific methods of governance– Develop infrastructure, agriculture, education

• World War II– Heavy industry– Policies of assimilation

The Civil War period

• 1945 defeat of Japan → Taiwan reverted to Chinese rule

• February 28th Incident 1947– Taiwanese vs “mainlanders”– Executions of many of Taiwanese elite for

collaboration– Legacy of Taiwanese opposition to the new

regime

Taiwan under Chiang Kaishek

• 1949 Nationalist government retreated to Taiwan– Refugees– Establish Republic of China

→ A base to recapture the mainland

• Try to learn from Communist Party– Land Reform– Reorganise the Party

• Successful economic growth

• Rigid political system– Martial law– Discriminated against local population

• Because government is representative of all of China

→ Taiwanese vs Mainlander identities

Democratisation

• Decline of the Cold War

• 1975 death of Chiang Kaishek

• Establishment of an opposition party

• Presidency of Lee Teng-hui– Power to Taiwanese– Reforms that destroy power of KMT old guard

→ Taiwan fully democraticProblems for People’s Republic of China

Taiwan deities in New York 2007

• These Taiwanese gods and goddesses are the traditional protectors of Taiwan. This year they will protect Taiwan from those that do not want this sovereign and democratic nation from joining the United Nations, simply because its easier to kow-tow to China’s imperialist hunger. Contrary to China’s claims, Taiwan has never been under the control of the Chinese government.