Taiwan
I recently received emails from some close members of TF asking me to clarify history and differences between China (the People's Republic of China, capital in Beijing, so-called "China"), with the Republic of China (capital in Taipei, so-called "Taiwan",). Although in no way I am expert on the region, I will attempt to do my best to answer the question.
TAIWAN :
Taiwan is located around 300 kilometers southeast off the coast of mainland China's Fujian Province.
TAI means 'Platform' and WAN means 'Gulf'. The use of the term 'Taiwan' by the Chinese dates from the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
The old name for Taiwan, 'Ilha Formosa', was given by the Portuguese, and it means 'beautiful island' in their language.
In 1923, the Communists and the Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party, formed a united front. They split in 1927, for the reason government officials in China began to faction due to disputes over the country's direction. The split occurred at an ideological level, primarily between nationalism from the Kuomintang party of Chiang Kai-shek and the Chinese Communist Party of Mao Zedong.
During the Japanese occupation of Manchuria prior to World War II, the Nationalist Party Kuomintang of Chiang Kai-shek decided to compromise with the Japanese in order to eliminate the Chinese Communist Party of Mao Zedong. Chiang Kai-shek believed that only after elimination of the Chinese Communist Party of Mao Zedong could they be strong enough to reclaim the territories occupied by the Japanese.
By 1937, however, the Japanese launched a full assault on all of China, Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek agreed to a second united front in 1937 to fight the Japanese to protect China. The "alliance" was strictly in name only, as the two sides were still bitter rivals, however begrudgingly came together to expel the Japanese. As I said earlier in the post # 2, it was an uneasy alliance, and during the latter part of World War II, the Americans — sometimes fitfully, sometimes with enthusiasm — tried to bolster the relationship between the Communists and the Kuomintang against the common foe.
By 1941 due to internal fighting between the two groups and supposed harassment of the Nationalist Party Kuomintang of Chiang Kai-shek's soldiers by the Chinese Communist Party of Mao Zedong, Chiang Kai-shek ordered an ambush on several thousand Chinese Communist Party soldiers, ending their "alliance".
Until the end of the Japanese occupation (after the Japanese surrender to the United States), both the Nationalist Party Kuomintang of Chiang Kai-shek and Chinese Communist Party of Mao Zedong armies operated independently and stayed out of each others' way. The Chinese Communist Party's power grew during this time as the Nationalist Party Kuomintang suffered massive casualties against the Japanese.
After the break down of negotiations of Chongqing (post # 2), the Nationalist Party Kuomintang of Chiang Kai-shek was losing support domestically and running out of options.
On December 8th 1949, as they steadily lose ground to the communist forces of Mao Zedong, Chinese Nationalist Party Kuomintang leaders depart for the island of Taiwan, Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek left for the island the following day where they establish their new capital in Taipei.
Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party claimed victory and established the People's Republic of China with its capital in Beijing.
This action marked the beginning of the “two Chinas” scenario that left mainland China under communist control and vexed U.S. diplomacy for the next 30 years. It also signaled the effective end of the long struggle between Chinese Nationalist forces and those of the communist leader Mao Zedong, though scattered Chinese Nationalists continued sporadic combat with the Communist armies.
At the time, many observers hoped that the end of the fighting and the Chinese Nationalist decision to establish a separate government on Taiwan might make it easier for foreign governments to recognize the new communist People’s Republic of China. For the US, however, the action merely posed a troubling diplomatic problem. Many in America, including members of the so-called “China Lobby” (individuals and groups from both public and private life who tenaciously supported the Chinese Nationalist cause), called upon the administration of President Harry S. Truman to continue its support of Chiang Kai-shek’s government by withholding recognition of the communist government on the mainland.
In fact, the Truman administration’s recognition of the Nationalist government on Taiwan infuriated Mao, ending any possibility for diplomatic relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. In the years after 1949, the US continued its support of Taiwan, and Mao’s government continued to rail against the Nationalist regime off its coast.
When the Korean War broke out in 1950, the US, seeking to prevent the further spread of communism in Asia, sent the Seventh Fleet to patrol the Taiwan Strait and deter Communist China from invading Taiwan. US military intervention forced Mao’s government to delay its plan to invade Taiwan. At the same time, with US backing, the new Republic of China of Chiang Kai-shek's regime on Taiwan continued to hold China’s seat in the United Nations.
Aid from the US and a successful land reform program helped the new Republic of China government in Taiwan solidify its control over the island and modernize the economy.
By the 1970s, however, U.S. policymakers, desirous of opening economic relations with China and hoping to use China as a balance against Soviet power, moved toward a closer relationship with communist China of Mao Zedong.
In July 1971, amid a Sino-Soviet split, US National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger flew secretly to Beijing and met Zhou Enlai to normalize Washington-Beijing relations. On Oct. 20th during the UN General Assembly session, Kissinger was again in Beijing to arrange President Richard Nixon's visit in the spring of 1972, leaving the US' UN ambassador George (Herbert Walker) Bush to fight a lone battle to push for dual representation. George Bush pointed out the constraints the Sino-US normalization process had imposed upon the US' fight in the UN to push forward the dual representation option then the proposal of `two Chinas' gave up.
On Oct. 25, 1971, the United Nations General Assembly voted to admit the People’s Republic of China (mainland China) and to expel the Republic of China (Taiwan) with the support of France and UK.
After a visit to Beijing from US President Nixon in 1972, relations with the People's Republic of China of Mao Zedong began improving up until the point where the United States changed its recognition of "China" away from the Republic of China of Chiang Kai-shek to the People's Republic of China of Mao Zedong,
Chiang Kai-shek died in 1975 at the age of 87 from a renal failure. His son Chiang Ching-kuo led Taiwan through a period of political, diplomatic and economic transition and rapid economic growth.
Mao Zedong began to make less frequent appearances. He also began to suffer the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease. He died in 1976 at the age of 82, still holding the position of Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party. After his death, Deng Xiaoping emerged as China’s leader. Today, Mao’s embalmed remains are housed in a mausoleum in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. If you go to Beijing, don't miss Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (Maozhuxi Jiniantang, Chiarman Mao's Tomb) where Mao's body lies in a crystal cabinet.
Both Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek died, things were greatly facilitated (if I may say). In 1979, four years after Chiang died and three years after Mao died, the US broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan and established full diplomatic relations with the communist People's Republic of China of Deng Xiaoping, US Congress passed Taiwan Relations Act. As relations improved, the large majority of the world followed suit.
The Republic of China in Taiwan began losing world support and lost recognition in international events, being relegated to having representation under the name "Chinese Taipei", created under a compromise between both sides.
In 1984, Deng Xiaoping proposed 'One country, Two systems' solution for settling problems of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, adopted by the National People's Congress in Beijing.
Hong Kong and Macau was returned to Chinese rule in 1997. About Taiwan, Beijing has put more emphasis on ‘One country’ than ‘Two systems', therefore China’s ‘One Country, Two Systems’ Experiment failed with Taiwan.
Is Taiwan part of China or not ?
As any local will tell you, Chinese history and China as a nation has existed for over five thousand years. It is impossible to ignore the subtle cultural and historical influence upon the current political situation.
At present, the nation of "China" is represented by two separate authorities while each government claims sovereignty over the whole of "China" :
- The People's Republic of China, which has control over mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau (commonly referred to as just "China").
- The Republic of China which has control over Taiwan island, the Penghu archipelago, and minor islands Kinmen and Matsu, (commonly referred to as "Taiwan").
So, back to the question of whether Taiwan is part of China or not ? Taiwan is part of its own definition of China under the Republic of China with Taipei as its capital, and not part of China under the definition of the People's Republic of China with Beijing as its capital.
Does this mean Taiwan is independent ?
Yes and no. The government operating on Taiwan is a self-sustaining, fully functional, democratically-elected government independent from Beijing, with its own economy, currency, etc. therefore the answer is Yes. On the other hand however, Taiwan lost its seat at the UN, has been barred from participating in World Health Organization activities, lost recognition in international events. The Taiwan's most recent request for admission was turned down in 2007, therefore the answer is No. Although I have traveled twice in Taiwan, whether or not Taiwan is an independent "country" is a very large grey area which cannot possibly be covered here.
What is most important for visitors to understand is that visiting Taiwan from a legal and visa standpoint is that it is different from mainland China. Laws are different, visa regulations are different, customs regulations are different, and Taiwan uses its own currency, the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$) and not renminbi of People's Republic of China or Hong Kong Dollar.
I recently received emails from some close members of TF asking me to clarify history and differences between China (the People's Republic of China, capital in Beijing, so-called "China"), with the Republic of China (capital in Taipei, so-called "Taiwan",). Although in no way I am expert on the region, I will attempt to do my best to answer the question.
TAIWAN :
Taiwan is located around 300 kilometers southeast off the coast of mainland China's Fujian Province.
TAI means 'Platform' and WAN means 'Gulf'. The use of the term 'Taiwan' by the Chinese dates from the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
The old name for Taiwan, 'Ilha Formosa', was given by the Portuguese, and it means 'beautiful island' in their language.
In 1923, the Communists and the Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party, formed a united front. They split in 1927, for the reason government officials in China began to faction due to disputes over the country's direction. The split occurred at an ideological level, primarily between nationalism from the Kuomintang party of Chiang Kai-shek and the Chinese Communist Party of Mao Zedong.
During the Japanese occupation of Manchuria prior to World War II, the Nationalist Party Kuomintang of Chiang Kai-shek decided to compromise with the Japanese in order to eliminate the Chinese Communist Party of Mao Zedong. Chiang Kai-shek believed that only after elimination of the Chinese Communist Party of Mao Zedong could they be strong enough to reclaim the territories occupied by the Japanese.
By 1937, however, the Japanese launched a full assault on all of China, Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek agreed to a second united front in 1937 to fight the Japanese to protect China. The "alliance" was strictly in name only, as the two sides were still bitter rivals, however begrudgingly came together to expel the Japanese. As I said earlier in the post # 2, it was an uneasy alliance, and during the latter part of World War II, the Americans — sometimes fitfully, sometimes with enthusiasm — tried to bolster the relationship between the Communists and the Kuomintang against the common foe.
By 1941 due to internal fighting between the two groups and supposed harassment of the Nationalist Party Kuomintang of Chiang Kai-shek's soldiers by the Chinese Communist Party of Mao Zedong, Chiang Kai-shek ordered an ambush on several thousand Chinese Communist Party soldiers, ending their "alliance".
Until the end of the Japanese occupation (after the Japanese surrender to the United States), both the Nationalist Party Kuomintang of Chiang Kai-shek and Chinese Communist Party of Mao Zedong armies operated independently and stayed out of each others' way. The Chinese Communist Party's power grew during this time as the Nationalist Party Kuomintang suffered massive casualties against the Japanese.
After the break down of negotiations of Chongqing (post # 2), the Nationalist Party Kuomintang of Chiang Kai-shek was losing support domestically and running out of options.
On December 8th 1949, as they steadily lose ground to the communist forces of Mao Zedong, Chinese Nationalist Party Kuomintang leaders depart for the island of Taiwan, Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek left for the island the following day where they establish their new capital in Taipei.
Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party claimed victory and established the People's Republic of China with its capital in Beijing.
This action marked the beginning of the “two Chinas” scenario that left mainland China under communist control and vexed U.S. diplomacy for the next 30 years. It also signaled the effective end of the long struggle between Chinese Nationalist forces and those of the communist leader Mao Zedong, though scattered Chinese Nationalists continued sporadic combat with the Communist armies.
At the time, many observers hoped that the end of the fighting and the Chinese Nationalist decision to establish a separate government on Taiwan might make it easier for foreign governments to recognize the new communist People’s Republic of China. For the US, however, the action merely posed a troubling diplomatic problem. Many in America, including members of the so-called “China Lobby” (individuals and groups from both public and private life who tenaciously supported the Chinese Nationalist cause), called upon the administration of President Harry S. Truman to continue its support of Chiang Kai-shek’s government by withholding recognition of the communist government on the mainland.
In fact, the Truman administration’s recognition of the Nationalist government on Taiwan infuriated Mao, ending any possibility for diplomatic relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. In the years after 1949, the US continued its support of Taiwan, and Mao’s government continued to rail against the Nationalist regime off its coast.
When the Korean War broke out in 1950, the US, seeking to prevent the further spread of communism in Asia, sent the Seventh Fleet to patrol the Taiwan Strait and deter Communist China from invading Taiwan. US military intervention forced Mao’s government to delay its plan to invade Taiwan. At the same time, with US backing, the new Republic of China of Chiang Kai-shek's regime on Taiwan continued to hold China’s seat in the United Nations.
Aid from the US and a successful land reform program helped the new Republic of China government in Taiwan solidify its control over the island and modernize the economy.
By the 1970s, however, U.S. policymakers, desirous of opening economic relations with China and hoping to use China as a balance against Soviet power, moved toward a closer relationship with communist China of Mao Zedong.
In July 1971, amid a Sino-Soviet split, US National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger flew secretly to Beijing and met Zhou Enlai to normalize Washington-Beijing relations. On Oct. 20th during the UN General Assembly session, Kissinger was again in Beijing to arrange President Richard Nixon's visit in the spring of 1972, leaving the US' UN ambassador George (Herbert Walker) Bush to fight a lone battle to push for dual representation. George Bush pointed out the constraints the Sino-US normalization process had imposed upon the US' fight in the UN to push forward the dual representation option then the proposal of `two Chinas' gave up.
On Oct. 25, 1971, the United Nations General Assembly voted to admit the People’s Republic of China (mainland China) and to expel the Republic of China (Taiwan) with the support of France and UK.
After a visit to Beijing from US President Nixon in 1972, relations with the People's Republic of China of Mao Zedong began improving up until the point where the United States changed its recognition of "China" away from the Republic of China of Chiang Kai-shek to the People's Republic of China of Mao Zedong,
Chiang Kai-shek died in 1975 at the age of 87 from a renal failure. His son Chiang Ching-kuo led Taiwan through a period of political, diplomatic and economic transition and rapid economic growth.
Mao Zedong began to make less frequent appearances. He also began to suffer the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease. He died in 1976 at the age of 82, still holding the position of Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party. After his death, Deng Xiaoping emerged as China’s leader. Today, Mao’s embalmed remains are housed in a mausoleum in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. If you go to Beijing, don't miss Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (Maozhuxi Jiniantang, Chiarman Mao's Tomb) where Mao's body lies in a crystal cabinet.
Both Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek died, things were greatly facilitated (if I may say). In 1979, four years after Chiang died and three years after Mao died, the US broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan and established full diplomatic relations with the communist People's Republic of China of Deng Xiaoping, US Congress passed Taiwan Relations Act. As relations improved, the large majority of the world followed suit.
The Republic of China in Taiwan began losing world support and lost recognition in international events, being relegated to having representation under the name "Chinese Taipei", created under a compromise between both sides.
In 1984, Deng Xiaoping proposed 'One country, Two systems' solution for settling problems of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, adopted by the National People's Congress in Beijing.
Hong Kong and Macau was returned to Chinese rule in 1997. About Taiwan, Beijing has put more emphasis on ‘One country’ than ‘Two systems', therefore China’s ‘One Country, Two Systems’ Experiment failed with Taiwan.
Is Taiwan part of China or not ?
As any local will tell you, Chinese history and China as a nation has existed for over five thousand years. It is impossible to ignore the subtle cultural and historical influence upon the current political situation.
At present, the nation of "China" is represented by two separate authorities while each government claims sovereignty over the whole of "China" :
- The People's Republic of China, which has control over mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau (commonly referred to as just "China").
- The Republic of China which has control over Taiwan island, the Penghu archipelago, and minor islands Kinmen and Matsu, (commonly referred to as "Taiwan").
So, back to the question of whether Taiwan is part of China or not ? Taiwan is part of its own definition of China under the Republic of China with Taipei as its capital, and not part of China under the definition of the People's Republic of China with Beijing as its capital.
Does this mean Taiwan is independent ?
Yes and no. The government operating on Taiwan is a self-sustaining, fully functional, democratically-elected government independent from Beijing, with its own economy, currency, etc. therefore the answer is Yes. On the other hand however, Taiwan lost its seat at the UN, has been barred from participating in World Health Organization activities, lost recognition in international events. The Taiwan's most recent request for admission was turned down in 2007, therefore the answer is No. Although I have traveled twice in Taiwan, whether or not Taiwan is an independent "country" is a very large grey area which cannot possibly be covered here.
What is most important for visitors to understand is that visiting Taiwan from a legal and visa standpoint is that it is different from mainland China. Laws are different, visa regulations are different, customs regulations are different, and Taiwan uses its own currency, the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$) and not renminbi of People's Republic of China or Hong Kong Dollar.
