Related information and links: Taiwan

Government of Taiwan

Government of Taiwan Information Office

Taipei economic and cultural office in NZ

Q & A about Taiwan's Referendum

President Chen's press conference

Writing History with Democracy and Defending Taiwan with Referendum

China's army

Location

: 23 30 N, 121 00 E

Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Background

: In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan. It reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the native population within the governing structure. In 2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be the relationship between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventual unification - as well as domestic political and economic reform.

Time zone

: 5 hours behind NZ

Capital

: Taipei

Land area

: 32,260 sq km

Population

: 22,603,001 (July 2003 est.)

Ethnic groups

: Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84 per cent, mainland Chinese 14 per cent, aborigine 2 per cent

Religions

: mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93 per cent, Christian 4.5 per cent, other 2.5 per cent

Languages

: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects

Government

: Multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly-elected president and unicameral legislature

Political parties and leaders

: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [CHEN Shui-bian, chairman]; Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) [LIEN Chan, chairman]; People First Party or PFP [James SOONG (SOONG Chu-yu), chairman]; Taiwan Solidarity Union or TSU [HUANG Chu-wen, chairman]; other minor parties including the Chinese New Party or CNP

Political pressure groups and leaders

: Taiwan independence movement, various business and environmental groups

note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate on the island's national identity; a broad popular consensus has developed that Taiwan currently enjoys de facto independence and - whatever the ultimate outcome regarding reunification or independence - that Taiwan's people must have the deciding voice; advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unify with mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan Nation Building

Executive branch

:

chief of state: President CHEN Shui-bian (since 20 May 2000) and Vice President Annette LU (LU Hsiu-lien) (since 20 May 2000)

Election results: CHEN Shui-bian elected president; per cent of vote - CHEN Shui-bian (DPP) 39.3 per cent, James SOONG (SOONG Chu-yu) (PFP) 36.84 per cent, LIEN Chan (KMT) 23.1 per cent, HSU Hsin-liang (independent) 0.63 per cent, LEE Ao (CNP) 0.13 per cent

Elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 18 March 2000 (next to be held NA March 2004); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier

Head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) YU Shyi-kun (since 1 February 2002) and Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) LIN Hsin-yi (since 1 February 2002)

Cabinet: Executive Yuan appointed by the president