The History of Taiwan
The prehistoric history of Taiwan, before history was written
Taiwan was inhabited for thousands of years by Austronesian Indigenous people, who are genetically and linguistically linked to Pacific Islanders.
Human presence dates back at least 30,000 years.
Taiwan is the cradle of Austronesian migration, influenced cultures across the pacific and Indian Ocean.
In the 12th – 16th Century,
Chinese fisherman and traders occasionally visited Taiwan, but no permanent Chinese rule yet.
Indigenous tribes controlled the land, living in independent communities.
European Colonization started between 1624 -1662
Dutch Formosa – The Dutch East India Company established a colony in southern Taiwan, developing trade, agriculture, and missionary work.
Spanish Taiwan 1626-1642
The Spanish briefly held the northern part, but the Dutch forced them out.
Then between 1662-1683 The Kingdom of Tungning
Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong), a Ming loyalist fighting the Ching Dynasty, expelled the Dutch in 1662, he established the first Han Chinese government on Taiwan, using it as a base against the Qing.
His son and grandson ruled until Qing forces defeat them in 1683.
The Qing Dynasty Rule 1693-1895
During Qing rule, large scale Han migration from China increased. Conflicts between settlers and Indigenous peoples were common, Taiwan developed economically but remained frontier-like.
Then from 1895-1945 Japanese Colonial Period
After loosing the first Sino-Japanese War, the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan under the Treaty of Shimonoseki.
Japan modernized Taiwan extensively, built roads, modern infrastructure, sanitation; developed industries (sugar, rice mining). Implemented strict colonial rules but also improved education and public health.
Many structures and rail lines from this era still exist.
Then in 1945-1949, Republic of China (ROC) takes Control
After World War II, when Japan was defeated, they surrendered Taiwan to the Republic of China.
However, the new ROC administration was corrupt and unpopular. Tensions erupted in the February 28 incident (1947), leading to mass casualties. This began the long period known as the White Terror, where political dissent was suppressed.
In 1949 the ROC Retreats to Taiwan
After loosing the Chinese Civil War to the Communists, Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang (KMT) relocated the ROC government to Taiwan.
At that point Taiwan became a military-ruled one-party state, economically supported by the U.S. and a stronghold of anti-communist ideology.
Between 1950s-1990s
That was Taiwan’s Economic Miracle, It transformed into one of the “Four Asian Tigers”
Key achievements were: Rapid industrialization, rise of electronics and semiconductor industries, and significant rise in living standards,
Between the 1980s -1990s Democratization
Taiwan transitioned from one-party rule to a vibrant democracy.
Milestones were: Martial law lifted in 1987, the longest ever, First direct presidential election held in 1996, Peaceful power alteration between political parties.
The Modern Taiwan (2000s-Present)
Today Taiwan is a democratic society with free elections, a global leader in semiconductors, especially TSMC, culturally distinct with mixed indigenous, Han, and Japanese influences, Internationally recognized in practice, though with a complicated status due to constant pressure from China.
Most of the world treats Taiwan as a de facto independent nation, but its de jure status is contested.
Conclusion/Summary:
Taiwan’s history is shaped by:
°Indigenous roots,
°European colonization,
°Chinese Ming and Qing influence,
°50 years of Japanese rule
°The Republic of China government and later democratization.
It is one of the most technologically advanced and democratic societies in Asia.
My personal opinion:
After everything this island, and its native people, have witnessed and gone through, they deserve to the decision to they have made, to be a domocratic free nation.
Even though, the Japanese were defeated after World War II, and surrendered to the Chinese, they should have more right to claim Taiwan then the Chinese, Japan was the main contributory to what this Island is today.
