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General
Info |
| History |
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 Taiwan,
formerly known as Formosa, is a land of divine beauty and warm hospitality.
Long ago, humanity began to flock the island after rumors of untold riches
of the island. Pirates, political exiles, traders, adventurers, farmers,
and fishermen abandoned their homes in the coastal areas of China to begin
a new life in Taiwan, with hopes of striking it rich and leading a better
life.
Taiwan is rich in
Chinese history and culture, the latter being the cement that has kept
the Chinese civilization together to this day.
Taiwan's first inhabitants
were the autochthonous ProtoAustronesians. The first settlement in Taiwan
existed during the 12th Century. Immigration of a larger scale only started
in the 17th Century when the Dutch and Spanish set up small colonial outposts
in Taiwan. However, these Westerners never stayed long on this island.
Soon after, the infamous Chinese dynasties claimed fame and fortune, and
created history for themselves in rebuilding Taiwan. As Taiwan progressed,
many other foreign powers became infatuated with its natural wealth and
sought to contest with the ruling dynasty for a share of the resources.
In 1885, the Ching
Dynasty made Taiwan a province of China. Unfortunately, they had to relinquish
the island to Japan after losing the Sino-Japanese war in 1895. Japanese
came and left behind a mixed legacy of language and customs. They did,
however, contribute greatly to modernizing Taiwan.
Prospective years
ahead were grim. Civil war commenced in Taiwan, the government had to
be relocated due to communism, the island's infrastructure was shattered,
and the economy depleted. Taiwan's fate was left to the discretion of
the United States, which provided aid and protection against threats from
communist China. Taiwan's own President Chiang Ching-Kuo together with
his successor Lee Teng-hui - with his utilitarian leadership - brought
Taiwan back on its feet again to rise as one of Asia's economic tigers.
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