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Taiwan (Republic of China)

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Taiwan (Republic of China) CultureGramsTM World Edition 2011 Taiwan (Republic of China) control until 1945. During that period, forces on mainland BACKGROUND China battled for control of China's government. A successful revolution inspired by Sun Yat-sen founded the Republic of Land and Climate China (ROC) in 1912, but the new government was Covering 13,892 square miles (35,980 square kilometers), overshadowed by the activities of contending warlords. Sun's Taiwan is a subtropical island about the size of the U.S. state Nationalist, or Kuomingtang (KMT), political movement was of Maryland. It is located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) led by General Chiang Kai-shek after Sun died (1925). east of mainland China. The government of Taiwan also Chiang battled the Communist forces of Mao Zedong, but controls the Penghu Islands (off Taiwan's west coast) and they both fought against the Japanese (1937–45). After Japan islands near China's coast (Chinmen, Matsu, and Wuchiu). A was defeated, the civil war continued. Mao's growing army north-south mountain range forms the backbone of the island. forced Chiang's troops to flee to Taiwan, where Nationalists The highest peak is Yushan, with an elevation of 13,110 feet expected to regroup before returning to the mainland. (3,996 meters). To the west of the central mountain range is a When a return proved impossible, Chiang declared the fertile plain, which contains the majority of the population KMT the legitimate government of all of China. Plans by the and most of the agricultural activity. People's Republic of China (PRC) to invade the island were Taiwan's north has warm, humid summers and cold, rainy blocked in 1950 by the United States. In 1954, the United winters; some snow falls at higher elevations. Southern States signed an agreement to protect Taiwan in case of attack Taiwan is warmer, and rain falls mostly in the summer. from the mainland. Much of the world recognized Taiwan's Typhoons are possible from June to October. Average sovereignty as the ROC. summer highs range from 89 to 100°F (32–38°C); average In 1971, however, the PRC was admitted to the United winter lows are between 54 and 64°F (12–18°C). The island Nations in Taiwan's place. In 1979, the United States is subject to numerous small earthquakes every year and normalized diplomatic relations with the PRC and broke them larger quakes on a less frequent basis. with the ROC. However, Taiwan-U.S. relations continue on an unofficial basis. In fact, many countries with no formal History political ties to Taiwan enjoy relatively strong economic Chinese immigration to Taiwan began as early as the T'ang relations. Dynasty (AD 618–907). In 1628, the Dutch took control of The KMT ruled Taiwan as a one-party state under martial the island. In 1683, the Manchus of mainland China law. The National Assembly members who took office in conquered it and made it a province of China. 1946 on the mainland held power until the late 1980s, when The island was ceded to Japan following the lifetime legislators were replaced with elected local Sino-Japanese War (1895) and remained under Japanese representatives. After Chiang Kai-shek died in 1975, his son 1 TM CultureGrams Taiwan Chiang Ching-kuo succeeded him as president. Taiwan Each one-syllable word can have many different meanings, directed its greatest efforts at modernization and developed a depending on the tone (voice inflection) with which it is thriving economy. After martial law was lifted in 1987, a spoken. Mandarin contains four different tones, and multiparty democracy began to emerge. The KMT's Lee Taiwanese has eight. For instance, the Mandarin word ma can Teng-hui, elected president by the National Assembly in mean “horse” or “mother” and can even function as a 1990, became the first native Taiwanese to lead the country. question mark. Hakka, another Chinese dialect, is also spoken In 1996, Lee became Taiwan's first directly elected president. on the island. Some older people know Japanese, and the On the strength of Taiwan's booming economy and new aboriginal peoples speak their own native languages. English democracy, voices calling for the island's independence have is a popular second or third language for students and is grown louder. Many people do not wish to pursue unification widely understood in urban areas. with China and see the island as having a separate identity. Although the official language of Taiwan and mainland China clearly opposes this view and has warned Taiwan not China is the same (Mandarin Chinese), vocabulary and to declare independence. Warnings have included military idiomatic differences exist. In Taiwan, schoolchildren use a movement and threats of invasion. In 1997, many simplified character system that helps them “sound out” a pro-independence politicians won local offices, and Taiwan word—something impossible to do with the standard dismantled its provincial government—a symbol of Taiwan's characters, which must be memorized. Westerners have status as a province in greater China. In 2000, Chen Shui-bian developed various systems of romanization (representing of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was elected Chinese characters and words in roman letters) that have been president, ending 50 years of KMT rule. Chen narrowly won adopted by the government to help foreigners sound out reelection in 2004 but resigned as party leader when the DPP names, read signs, and follow maps. The average Chinese suffered a major defeat in January 2008 parliamentary would not understand or use romanization. Romanization elections. In March 2009, he went on trial for corruption systems differ; for example, the character for “please” can be charges. written Qingor Ching. Pronunciation remains the same In July 2009, China and Taiwan entered into direct (cheeng). dialogue for the first time in 60 years. While tension continues to underlie relations with China, Taiwanese leaders Religion have chosen dialogue communication over confrontation. In Freedom of religion is guaranteed in Taiwan. Ninety-three September 2009, Typhoon Morakot triggered floods and percent of the population practices a combination of mudslides that left hundreds dead. Outcry over the Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Confucianism, which government's poor response prompted the resignation of emphasizes ancestor veneration, is not regarded as a religion. Premier Liu Chao-shiuan. Rather, it is a philosophy that orders social patterns and relationships and forms the Chinese value system. It does not proclaim loyalty to any specific deity. Worship rituals and THE PEOPLE beliefs come mainly from Buddhism, including a belief in reincarnation and in karma, or that good deeds bring good Population fortune while bad deeds have negative consequences. About 5 Taiwan's population of 23.02 million is growing by 0.2 percent of the people are Christians of various denominations. percent annually. The three largest cities are the capital of Taipei, the southern commercial city of Kaohsiung, and General Attitudes Taichung, in the west. Indigenous Taiwanese constitute only People in Taiwan generally are reserved, quiet, generous, and 2 percent of the population. They are divided among several friendly. Frankness or abruptness, especially in offering ethnic groups, some of which maintain their native languages criticism of any kind, is avoided. Causing public and traditions. The rest of the population is comprised of embarrassment or bringing shame to anyone (a “loss of face”) ethnic Chinese—Taiwanese (84 percent) and mainland is unacceptable. Even if one disagrees with another person, Chinese (14 percent). The latter migrated to the island after one would not express opposition to that person in public. World War II. The Taiwanese are descendants of migrants Loud or boisterous behavior is regarded as being in poor who left China between the 17th and 19th centuries. As the taste. mainland Chinese who came after 1947 pass away, their The Confucian ethic of proper social and family children (with no memory of the mainland) feel that Taiwan relationships forms the foundation of society, although rising is their real home. rates of violent crime indicate that economic prosperity is eroding that foundation. Schools and government foster the Language tradition of respect for, and obedience to, parents. An Taiwan's official language is Mandarin Chinese. However, individual's actions reflect on the entire family, and people act most residents also speak Taiwanese, the language of the first with this in mind. Taiwanese are group and community Chinese immigrants. Mandarin is spoken in formal situations oriented. Young men must serve one year either in the and in school instruction. In everyday conversation, young military or performing community service. people generally use Mandarin, while older people often As society changes, people are adjusting to new social speak Taiwanese. In southern Taiwan, Taiwanese is more patterns and concepts. When new ideas conflict with common. Both Taiwanese and Mandarin are tonal languages. traditional ideas, tensions increase between the older and 2 TM CultureGrams Taiwan younger generations. Traditionally, men and women do not When posing for photos, people often smile and hold up two show affection for each other in public, although this is fingers in a V. changing in the larger urban areas. While people value material possessions, they most desire a good education. They Visiting appreciate those who are diligent and hardworking. Visiting is an integral part of Chinese culture. Social visits occur mostly in the home. Friends and relatives may come Personal Appearance unannounced, but most people prefer advance notice. While a Western-style clothing is the norm in Taiwan. People, day's notice is acceptable, one week is generally more especially in large urban areas, enjoy the latest fashions. appropriate. For special occasions (wedding, birthday) or Older people prefer conservative clothing. Cleanliness and official functions (business, politics), hosts send invitations to neatness are the most important factors in appearance.
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