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What are the main problems of Taiwan today?Despite of its economical success in recent years, Taiwan faces intractable political problems which stem from differing views of the island's national identity. The roots of these problems lie deep in Taiwan's past. For one thing, Taiwan's political status has never been unassailable. Taiwan has not always been considered part of China, has often been governed by non-Chinese, and has never been ruled exclusively by people who consider Taiwan as home. This problem is intensified when Peking demands that Taiwan be surrendered to Communist Chinese control, and threats that the island will be taken by force if necessary. Last year (1996), Peking launched missiles targetting nearsea of Taiwan and mounted a mock invasion to try to disrupt presidential elections, which China claimed were part of Taipei's quest for internationally recognized independence. Back to TopIs Taiwan a renegade province or an independent nation?The Taiwanese "separatist tradition" originated two centuries ago, when the island pioneers were in conflict with the intrusive mainland Chinese authority. Then the spectacular overall changes in island life that occurred during the Japanese rule (1895-1945) distanced the islanders further from the mainland Chinese. In October of 1945, after Taiwan was handed over to Chiang Kai-shek, the Taiwanese went through nightmarish experience with the mainland Chinese. During and after the "Feb.28 Incident," an islandwide uprising against the Chinese, more than 100,000 islanders had been slaughtered, imprisoned or obliged to flee the island. The massacre- for such as it was- left an indelible scar. Fifty years after the bloody March Massacre, the island people face the unpredictable outcome of the Taipei-Peking confrontation. For ample historical reason they put little trust in official pledges, on either side, that a transfer of authority can or will be "peaceful." Back to TopIn the turmoil of change, what is the future outlook?One of the prominent changes that have been brought on after the deaths of Chiang Kai-shek and his son is the liberty to address divisive questions concerning national identity. Uncertainty about the national identity of the island is tied to deep anxieties about the future of Taiwan. This results from a clash of nationalist visions; the Chinese nationalism manifested by the Kuomintang and its supporters, and the Taiwanese nationalism manifested by those who advocate that Taiwan be an independent state. This conflict reveals ingrained hostilities and mistrust between segments of the population. One other fundamental change has to do with attitudes people hold toward China and Taiwan. Residents of Taiwan have been impelled by changes in the political and social realms to reexamine their cultural and political identities, and as they do, many find that the simple truths to which they clung in the past are certainly not simple and may not even be true. The nub of debate is whether Taiwan itself is a country or whether it is, as the ruling parties in both Taipei and Peking have claimed, only a part of China. Back to TopWhere is Taiwan, and what is its origin ?Taiwan is an island off the southeast coast of China, comprised of several islands or island groups such as the Pescadores, Orchid Island, and Green Island. Taiwan lies between the Ryukyu Islands, which are part of Japan, to the north; and the Philippines, to the south. To the east of Taiwan is the Pacific Ocean, and to the west is the Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan from the mainland China. The total area of Taiwan, including the islands, is 13,892 square miles (35,981 square kilometres). Some geologists say that Taiwan was once part of the mainland. Others dispute this view because of its volcanic soil (not found in China) and say that geologically it is part of a long chain of islands separate from the Asian continent that extends from Alaska through Japan and south of Taiwan to the Philippines and further south. These geologists contend there was no mainland connection or that such is far removed in time. Recent geological studies seem to support the latter view. Back to TopWhat about the topography and natural resources?Taiwan is mountainous--mountains covering more than two-thirds of the island. Yu Shan (Jade Mountain) is the highest peak, reaching more than thirteen thousand feet above sea level. There is a central range of mountains stretching from north to south, closer to the island's eastern coast than its western coast. For this reason, there are few good harbors on the eastern side of Taiwan. The western part of the island is the home of most of the population and its tilled land. Taiwan's rivers originate in the mountains, are generally short, and are not navigable. The soil in Taiwan is generally rich in the lowlands but leached and acidic in higher elevations. All this changes in elevation account for the wide variety of flora. Rice is the staple crop: two or three crops a year are harvested. Taiwan's farmers also produce a wide variety of vegetables and fruits--the latter having the reputation for being the tastiest in the world. Back to TopHow large is the population of Taiwan?The population of Taiwan is now estimated to be over 21 million. Considering the nation's small geographic size, this makes it the second most densely populated nation in the world after Bangladesh. There are 1,505 people per square mile in Taiwan. Considering that most the island is mountainous, Taiwan has more people per unit of flat land than any medium-sized or large nation in the world. Back to TopWho are the Taiwanese people?Taiwan's population is usually divided into four ethnic groups. The aborigines, or earliest inhabitants, are considered to be of Malay or Polynesian origin based on their languages and culture. They comprise less than 2 percent of the population. There are two groups of early Chinese immigrants or "Taiwanese." The first, the Hakka, came from south China near Hong Kong. The second, the Fukienese, came from China's Fukien Province directly across the Taiwan Strait. Together they comprise 85 percent of the population, with the latter outnumbering the former by two or three to one. The fourth group is comprised of Chinese from various parts of China who came to Taiwan after World War II, mostly in 1949 after the defeat of the Nationalists. They comprise just under 15 percent of the population. They are referred to as "mainlanders." Back to TopWho are the aborigines?The aborigines came to Taiwan in prehistoric times. Currently most live in the mountains, although originally two separate groups cound be identified: mountain and lowland aborigines. There are a number of different aboriginal tribes, but there are only seven major ones. Although the aborigines speak languages that resemble Malay, rather than Chinese, they do not have a common language other than Japanese or Chinese. Many still live by hunting and fishing, but aborigines are also now working in other occupations especially those associated with tourism. They are poorer than the rest of the population, and their birthrate is lower. Back to TopWho are the Hakka Taiwanese?As mentioned before, the Hakka people immigrated from south China near Hong Kong. By the year 1000 A.D. there were a large number of Hakka communities in western Taiwan. They engaged in fishing, farming and trading. Today there are still Hakka-dominated areas in Taiwan, though this group of Chinese can also be found throughout the island. They speak the Hakka dialect in addition to regular Taiwanese (a derivative of the Fukien dialect) and Mandarin. Hakkas are in a number of ways culturally distinct from other Chinese. Today, many Hakkas are in politics, local police organizations, and the railroads. Back to TopWho are the Fukien Taiwanese?The Fukien Taiwanese who came from China's Fukien Province across the Taiwan Strait began to settle in Taiwan nearly a thousand years ago, but most migrated in the fouteenth through the severteenth centuries. They forced some of the Hakka population to move inland and took much of the island's best farmland. They also dominated the island politically when it was not controlled by outside powers. The Fukienese or Taiwanese now dominate agriculture, business, and local politics. Because of the years of separation from China and as a result of greater contact with other peoples and countries and the fifty-year period of Japanese colonial rule before World War II, their culture is also u Back to TopWho are the "foreign provincials" or mainlanders?The mainland Chinese, the latecomers, are regarded as "foreign provincials". When they came, most were government officials and soldiers. In the early years after 1949, they monopolized government jobs and education and lived primarily in the large cities, especially Taipei. Assimilation and other factors, however, have changed this in recent years. Since they came from all parts of China they speak various dialects in addition to Mandarin. Today, many also speak Taiwanese. Back to TopHow do these ethnic groups get along?There have been "ethnic" frictions between and among the four groups. The aborigines fought both groups of early Chinese. The Hakka and Fukien Taiwanese have long harbored hostilities toward each other, and both have felt discrimination by the Mainland Chinese. Ethnic identification, however, has waned in recent years with urbanization, prosperity, and a common outside threat from China. Back to TopWhat are the religious beliefs of Taiwanese people?In terms of religions or religious beliefs, the population of Taiwan is quite eclectic and most people report adhering to more than one religion. The aborigines practice nature worship and various sacrifices. Most Taiwanese--65 percent according to a recent poll--believe in Taiwanese folk religion. But Chinese immigrants also brought Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism to Taiwan, and most of the population report being followers of one or all of these religions. The Dutch introduced Protestant Christianity to Taiwan, while the Spanish brought Catholicism and the Japanese brought Shinto. Back to Top ¡@ |
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