Country Information on Taiwan

Terrain Taiwan is divided by a central mountain range that runs from north to south, rising sharply on the east coast and descending gradually to a broad western plain. The heavily forested hills and mountains of central and eastern Taiwan reach their summit at Yu Shan (3,997 m). Climate Taiwan has a semitropical climate that is influenced by the monsoons. Summers are hot and humid while winters are mild and short. Typhoons from the South China Sea bring heavy rains between July and September. Average annual precipitation is over 2,000 mm in the low-lying areas and increases with altitude. Average temperature ranges in Taipei are from 12 to 18 degrees Celsius in February to 24 to 34 degrees Celsius in July. Fauna/Flora The island's high mountain forests have predominantly cypresses, although camphor used to grow in abundance. Taiwan was once home to many endemic species, including the Formosan black bear, the Formosan Sika deer and the Formosan landlocked salmon. History/Politics Aborigines of Malayan descent inhabited Taiwan when Chinese from the areas now designated as Fukien and Kwangtung began settling it in the 7th century. The Portuguese explored the area in 1590, naming it "the Beautiful" (Formosa). In 1624 the Dutch set up forts in the south, the Spanish in the north. The Dutch forced out the Spanish in 1641 and controlled the island until 1661, when Chinese general Koxinga took it over and established an independent kingdom. The Manchus seized the island in 1683 and held it until 1895, when it passed to Japan after the first Sino-Japanese War. It was the target of heavy American bombing during World War II, and at the close of the war the island was restored to China. After his armies having been defeated by the Communists on the mainland, General Kai-shek's Nationalist government retreated to Taiwan in December 1949 and seceded from China. His son, Chiang Ching-kuo, continued as premier and was a dominant figure in the Taipei government. In April 1991, President Lee Teng-hui formally declared an end to emergency rule, which had existed since Chiang's forces originally occupied the island. In the first full election in many decades in December 1991, the governing Kuomintang won 71% of the vote, affirming the island's opposition to reunification with China. In 1998, Taiwan pushed for a separate UN seat. President Lee Teng-hui announced in July 1999 that he was abandoning the longstanding "One China" policy that had kept the peace between the island and its neighbour, and would from now on deal with China on a "state-to-state basis". In March 2000 elections voters elected pro-independence candidate Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party, ending more than 50 years of Nationalist rule. Vice Premier Chang Chun-hsiung was named prime minister in October 2000, following the resignation of Tang Fei. Economy Inflation and unemployment are low, the trade surplus is substantial, and foreign reserves are the world's fourth largest. Traditional labour-intensive industries are steadily being moved offshore and replaced by more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Rice is the chief crop, and the island has a sizable fishing fleet. The production of e.g. chemicals, steel, electrical appliances, petrochemicals and communication systems have supplemented textile and food processing industries. Major exports include electrical products, machinery and clothing. 8% of the population is employed in the agricultural sector, with 37% in manufacturing and 55% in the services sector. The unemployment rate amounted to 3% in 2000. Culture Traditional Taiwanese culture is very similar to that of China. Chinese opera, and its half-sibling Taiwanese opera, are an integral part of the culture. Most Chinese music is made with string instruments or flutes. The Taiwanese take health and longevity very seriously. Many practise taijiquan (slow motion shadow boxing) for exercise and as an art form.