| Revision as of 23:09, 17 July 2003 view sourceJiang (talk | contribs)43,437 edits moving over parts of template from Taiwan article; im not done yet← Previous edit | Revision as of 23:20, 17 July 2003 view source Jiang (talk | contribs)43,437 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| ''Main articles: ], ]'' | ''Main articles: ], ]'' | ||
| The Republic of China developed out of |
The Republic of China developed out of the ] against the ] which began on ], ]. This date is celebrated as ]. Emboldened by the lack of response against this uprising, provincial assemblies began to secede forcing the last emperor to abdicate. | ||
| The Republic of China was declared on ], ]. The last Qing emperor ] abdicated on ], ]. In August 1912, ] formed the ]. A parliamentary election was held in February 1913. The opposing parties were ]'s followers and Sung Chiao-jen's ]. After a landslide victory by Kuomintang, Yuan Shikai had Sung Chiao-jen assassinated. Hatred toward Yuan grew, but numerous rebellions were crushed by Yuan. ] fled to Japan for his own safety. The parliament officially elected Yuan Shikai the president of Republic of China in October ]. Yuan's government was diplomatically recognized by most of the nations. | |||
| The nationalist ] party, which at the time controlled the government of the ROC, retreated to Taiwan after the ] between the Kuomintang and the ] ended in the Communists' favour in ], bringing with them some 2 million refugees from ]. | |||
| Soon after Yuan dissolved the parliament and declared himself emperor. Many provinces declared independence and became warlord states. Yuan Shikai died of natural causes in ] ending the brief monarchy. | |||
| ⚫ | Taiwan remained under ] for 4 decades until ] and one-party rule until ] when President ] gradually liberalized and democratized the system. |
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| During ], ], fighting on the allied side, seized ]'s sphere of influence in ] province. Through secret diplomatic channels, the Beijing warlord government agreed to let Japan keep Shandong. The public did not know about agreement until the announcement of the ] at the end of World War I. This act, which most Chinese have regarded as traitorous, provoked major demonstrations in Beijing on ], ] and started what became known as the ]. | |||
| Sun Yat-sen gained control of ] province with the help of southern warlords in ]. Sun reestablished Kuomintang in October 1919. | |||
| After losing the ] to the ] in 1949, ] evacuated the government to ], which had been ceded from Japan in 1945, and declared ] as the temporary capital of China, bringing with them some 2 million refugees from ]. Because of the ], until the ], the Republic of China was recognized as the sole legitimate government of both Mainland China and Taiwan by the ] and most Western nations. | |||
| ⚫ | Taiwan remained under ] for 4 decades until ] and one-party rule until ] when President ] gradually liberalized and democratized the system. In ], ] was elected president, ending KMT rule. | ||
| See also: ], ] | See also: ], ] | ||
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| ''Main article: ] | ''Main article: ] | ||
| The Republic of China |
The Republic of China continues to be officially recognized by 27 nations, mostly small countries in Central America and Africa but also including the ]. The People's Republic of China has a policy of not having diplomatic relations with any nation which recognizes the Republic of China and insists that all nations with which it has diplomatic relations make a statement which recognizes its claims on Taiwan. In practice, most major nations maintain unofficial semi-diplomatic relations with Taiwan and the statement which is required by the PRC is couched in extremely carefully worded ambiguity. | ||
| The Republic of China, as one of its founding members was in the ] and held China's seat on the ] until ], when it was expelled by General Assembly Resolution Resolution 2758 and replaced in all UN organs with the ] government. Multiple attempts by the Republic of China to re-join the UN have not made it past committee. | |||
| Until 1945, the ROC claimed jurisdiction over Mongolia, but under Soviet pressure, it recognized Mongolian independence. Shortly thereafter, it repudiated this recognition and continued to claim jurisdiction over Mongolia until recently. Since the late 1990s, relationship with Mongolia has become a controversial topic. The ] is attempting to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia, but this move is controversial because it is widely seen as a prelude for renouncing ROC sovereignty over ] thereby declaring ]. | Until 1945, the ROC claimed jurisdiction over Mongolia, but under Soviet pressure, it recognized Mongolian independence. Shortly thereafter, it repudiated this recognition and continued to claim jurisdiction over Mongolia until recently. Since the late 1990s, relationship with Mongolia has become a controversial topic. The ] is attempting to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia, but this move is controversial because it is widely seen as a prelude for renouncing ROC sovereignty over ] thereby declaring ]. | ||
| ==Economy== | |||
| ⚫ | ''Main article: ]'' | ||
| The Republic of China on Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities. In keeping with this trend, some large government-owned banks and industrial firms are being ]. Real growth in ] has averaged about 8% during the past three decades. Exports have provided the primary impetus for industrialisation. The trade surplus is substantial, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest. | |||
| ] contributes 2% to GDP, down from 35% in ]. Traditional labour-intensive industries are steadily being moved offshore and replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in ], ], ], the ], ], and ]; 50,000 Taiwanese businesses are established in Mainland China. | |||
| Because of its conservative financial approach and its entrepreneurial strengths, Taiwan suffered little compared with many of its neighbours from the Asian financial crisis in ]-]. The global economic downturn, however, combined with poor policy coordination by the new administration and increasing bad debts in the banking system, pushed Taiwan into ] in ], the first whole year of negative growth since ]. ] also reached a level not seen since the 1970s oil crisis. | |||
| See also: | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| See also: ] | |||
| == Miscellaneous topics == | == Miscellaneous topics == | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
Revision as of 23:20, 17 July 2003
The Republic of China (中華民國 ; Wade-Giles: Chung¹-hua² Min²-kuo² ; pinyin: Zhōnghuá mínguó) is a country that currently consists of Taiwan and several outlying islands of Fujian, namely Quemoy and Matsu. In the western news media, the term Taiwan is frequently used synonymously with the Republic of China while "China" is now used to mean the People's Republic of China.
Succeeding the Qing Dynasty in China, the Republic of China (ROC) administered Mainland China from 1911 to 1949 until it was defeated by the Chinese Communists and has administered Taiwan from 1945 until the present. The provisional capital is Taipei and official capital remains the city of Nanjing in Mainland China. (See also: Min Guo)
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China on the mainland, the political status of the Republic of China has been a controversial issue. After losing control over Mainland China, the ruling Kuomintang authorities actively claimed sovereignty over mainland China (including Tibet) and outer Mongolia. In 1991, President Lee Teng-hui stated that the government will no longer challenge communist rule on the mainland. The current administration of President Chen Shui-bian has left the issue of sovereignty somewhat ambigious, although the government has stopped mentioning Mainland China and its websites feature maps and pictures of Taiwan. However, the National Assembly has not formally renounced the ROC's jurisdiction over mainland China and outer Mongolia, as this would be seen as a precursor to Taiwan independence.
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| National motto: None | ||||
| Official language | Mandarin Chinese | |||
| Capital | Taipei¹ | |||
| President | Chen Shui-bian | |||
| Premier | Yu Shyi-kun | |||
| Area - Total - % water | Ranked 134th 35,980 km² 10.3% | |||
| Population
- Density | Ranked 47th
627/km² | |||
| Establishment
- Established | Wuchang Uprising
January 1, 1912 | |||
| Currency | New Taiwan Dollar | |||
| Time zone | UTC +8 | |||
| National anthem | Three Principles of the People | |||
| Internet TLD | .TW | |||
| Calling Code | 886 | |||
| (1) Provisional; official ROC capital remains the city of Nanking in Mainland China | ||||
History
Main articles: History of China, History of the Republic of China
The Republic of China developed out of the Wuchang Uprising against the Qing Dynasty which began on October 10, 1911. This date is celebrated as Double Tenth Day. Emboldened by the lack of response against this uprising, provincial assemblies began to secede forcing the last emperor to abdicate.
The Republic of China was declared on January 1, 1912. The last Qing emperor Puyi abdicated on February 12, 1912. In August 1912, Sung Chiao-jen formed the Kuomintang. A parliamentary election was held in February 1913. The opposing parties were Yuan Shikai's followers and Sung Chiao-jen's Kuomintang. After a landslide victory by Kuomintang, Yuan Shikai had Sung Chiao-jen assassinated. Hatred toward Yuan grew, but numerous rebellions were crushed by Yuan. Sun Yat-sen fled to Japan for his own safety. The parliament officially elected Yuan Shikai the president of Republic of China in October 1913. Yuan's government was diplomatically recognized by most of the nations.
Soon after Yuan dissolved the parliament and declared himself emperor. Many provinces declared independence and became warlord states. Yuan Shikai died of natural causes in 1916 ending the brief monarchy.
During World War I, Japan, fighting on the allied side, seized Germany's sphere of influence in Shandong province. Through secret diplomatic channels, the Beijing warlord government agreed to let Japan keep Shandong. The public did not know about agreement until the announcement of the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I. This act, which most Chinese have regarded as traitorous, provoked major demonstrations in Beijing on May 4, 1919 and started what became known as the May Fourth Movement.
Sun Yat-sen gained control of Guangdong province with the help of southern warlords in 1917. Sun reestablished Kuomintang in October 1919.
After losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communist Party of China in 1949, Chiang Kai-shek evacuated the government to Taiwan, which had been ceded from Japan in 1945, and declared Taipei as the temporary capital of China, bringing with them some 2 million refugees from Mainland China. Because of the Cold War, until the 1970s, the Republic of China was recognized as the sole legitimate government of both Mainland China and Taiwan by the United Nations and most Western nations.
Taiwan remained under martial law for 4 decades until 1987 and one-party rule until 1991 when President Chiang Ching-kuo gradually liberalized and democratized the system. In 2000, Chen Shui-bian was elected president, ending KMT rule.
See also: History of Taiwan, Timeline of Chinese history
Politics
Main article: Politics of the Republic of China
The Republic of China has undergone a process of democratisation since its constitution was reformed in the early 1990s. The head of state is the president, who is elected by popular vote for a four-year term on the same ticket as the vice-president. The president has authority over the five administrative branches (Yuan): the Executive Yuan, Legislative Yuan, Control Yuan, Judicial Yuan, and Examination Yuan. The president appoints the members of the Executive Yuan as his cabinet, including a premier who is officially the President of the Executive Yuan; members are responsible for policy and administration.
The main legislative body is the unicameral Legislative Yuan with 225 seats, of which 168 are elected by popular vote. Of the remainder, 41 are elected on the basis of the proportion of nationwide votes received by participating political parties, eight are elected from overseas Chinese constituencies on the same principle, as are the eight seats for the aboriginal populations; members serve three-year terms. Originally the unicameral National Assembly, as a standing constitutional convention and electoral college, held some parliamentary functions, but this has now become a non-standing body of 300 members that has seen most of its powers transferred to the Legislative Yuan.
Political divisions
Main article: Political divisions of the Republic of China
File:Tw-map.jpg
Current jurisdiction of the ROC
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The Republic of China currently has jurisdiction over two of the historic provinces of China: the entire Taiwan province and several islands near the mainland, chiefly Quemoy and Matsu, that are part of Fujian province. See also: Provinces of China Foreign relationsMain article: Foreign relations of the Republic of China The Republic of China continues to be officially recognized by 27 nations, mostly small countries in Central America and Africa but also including the Holy See. The People's Republic of China has a policy of not having diplomatic relations with any nation which recognizes the Republic of China and insists that all nations with which it has diplomatic relations make a statement which recognizes its claims on Taiwan. In practice, most major nations maintain unofficial semi-diplomatic relations with Taiwan and the statement which is required by the PRC is couched in extremely carefully worded ambiguity. The Republic of China, as one of its founding members was in the United Nations and held China's seat on the Security Council until 1971, when it was expelled by General Assembly Resolution Resolution 2758 and replaced in all UN organs with the People's Republic of China government. Multiple attempts by the Republic of China to re-join the UN have not made it past committee. Until 1945, the ROC claimed jurisdiction over Mongolia, but under Soviet pressure, it recognized Mongolian independence. Shortly thereafter, it repudiated this recognition and continued to claim jurisdiction over Mongolia until recently. Since the late 1990s, relationship with Mongolia has become a controversial topic. The DPP is attempting to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia, but this move is controversial because it is widely seen as a prelude for renouncing ROC sovereignty over Mainland China thereby declaring Taiwan independence. EconomyMain article: Economy of Taiwan The Republic of China on Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities. In keeping with this trend, some large government-owned banks and industrial firms are being privatised. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 8% during the past three decades. Exports have provided the primary impetus for industrialisation. The trade surplus is substantial, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest. Agriculture contributes 2% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Traditional labour-intensive industries are steadily being moved offshore and replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in Mainland China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam; 50,000 Taiwanese businesses are established in Mainland China. Because of its conservative financial approach and its entrepreneurial strengths, Taiwan suffered little compared with many of its neighbours from the Asian financial crisis in 1998-1999. The global economic downturn, however, combined with poor policy coordination by the new administration and increasing bad debts in the banking system, pushed Taiwan into recession in 2001, the first whole year of negative growth since 1947. Unemployment also reached a level not seen since the 1970s oil crisis. See also: East Asian Tigers Miscellaneous topicsExternal Links
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