Taiwan

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Taiwan (台灣) is located in East Asia between the South China Sea and the East China Sea off the southeastern coast of the Chinese mainland. It is governed de facto by the Republic of China (ROC).[1] However, it is claimed by the People's Republic of China (PRC).[2]

Taiwan's rapid economic growth in the decades after World War II has transformed it into an advanced economy as one of the Four Asian Tigers.[3] This economic rise is known as the Taiwan Miracle. It is categorized as an advanced economy by the IMF and high-income economy by the World Bank. Its technology industry plays a key role in the global economy.[4] Taiwanese companies manufacture a large proportion of the world's consumer electronics, although most of them are made in their factories in mainland China.[5]

Contents

History

Main article: History of Taiwan

Geography

Main article: Geography of Taiwan

Climate

Taiwan's climate is marine in the north and tropical in the south.[6] In the north and the mountain areas the weather varies widely by season. In the south, however, it is warm and humid all year.

The entire island succumbs to hot humid weather from June until September. October to December is perhaps the most pleasant part of the year. The middle and southern parts of the island do not have an extended monsoon season during the winter months, but can experience several weeks of rain, especially during and after the Lunar New Year.

Environment

Taiwan's high population density and many factories have created areas of heavy pollution. Most notable are the southern suburbs of Taipei and the western stretch from Tainan to Lin Yuan, south of Kaohsiung. In the past, Taipei suffered from extensive vehicle and factory air pollution, but with mandatory use of unleaded gasoline and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency, the air quality has improved dramatically. Motor scooters, especially older or cheaper two-stroke versions, are ubiquitous, and contribute disproportionately to air pollution.

Other current environmental issues include: water pollution from industrial emissions and raw sewage, contamination of drinking water supplies, and trade in endangered species. Though regulation of sulfate aerosol emissions from petroleum production is becoming stringent, acid rain remains a concern. More than half of Taiwan's acid rain is actually brought by monsoon rains from mainland China. [1]

Earthquakes and typhoons are the two major natural hazards on the island. Intensive rain from typhoons often causes disastrous mudslides.

Government

Main article: Republic of China

Politics

Main article: Politics of Taiwan

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Taiwan

Military

Main article: Military of Taiwan

Economy

Main article: Economy of Taiwan

Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by the government. Most large government-owned banks and industrial firms have been privatized.[7] Real growth in GDP has averaged about 8% during the past three decades. Exports have provided the primary impetus for industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are low, the trade surplus is substantial, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest.[8] The Republic of China has its own currency, the New Taiwan dollar.

The quick industrialization and rapid growth of Taiwan during the latter half of the twentieth century has been called the "Taiwan Miracle". Taiwan along with Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong are known as the "Four Asian Tigers".

Since the 1990's economic ties between the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China have grown. As of 2005, $50 billion has been invested in China by Taiwanese companies;[9] total private Taiwanese investment is estimated to exceed $150 billion.[10]

Growth averaged more than 4% in the 2002-2006 period and the unemployment rate fell below 4%.[11]

The service sector comprises 73% of the economy. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being moved offshore and replaced with more capital and technology-intensive industries.

The ROC often joins international organizations under a politically neutral name. The ROC is a member of the World Trade Organization under the name "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei)".[12]

Society

Main article: Society of Taiwan

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Taiwan

Culture

Main article: Taiwanese culture

Religion

Main article: Religion in Taiwan

Education

Main article: Education in Taiwan

See also

References

  1. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1285915.stm
  2. ^ "The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue". Taiwan Affairs Office and the Information Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China. 2000-02-21. http://www.gwytb.gov.cn:8088/detail.asp?table=WhitePaper&title=White%20Papers%20On%20Taiwan%20Issue&m_id=4. Retrieved on 2008-08-02. 
  3. ^ World Economic Outlook published by the IMF
  4. ^ "Why Taiwan Matters". BusinessWeek. May 16, 2005. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_20/b3933011.htm. 
  5. ^ "Slideshow: Taiwan's Tech Clout". BusinessWeek. May 16, 2005. http://images.businessweek.com/ss/05/05/taiwanindustry/index_01.htm. 
  6. ^ "Field Listing - Climate". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2059.html. Retrieved on 2006-03-08. 
  7. ^ Her, Kelly (2005-01-12). "Privatization Set in Motion". Taiwan Review. http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1153&CtNode=128. Retrieved on 2009-06-05. 
  8. ^ "Country Comparisons - Reserves of foreign exchange and gold". CIA - The World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2188rank.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-07. 
  9. ^ BBC News, "Taiwan Flashpoint", "Taiwanese companies have invested more than $50bn in China"
  10. ^ Taiwan Investment in China
  11. ^ "Coping with Asian financial crisis: The Taiwan experience | Seoul Journal of Economics". Find Articles at BNET. 2009-04-28. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5411/is_199801/ai_n21432097/. Retrieved on 2009-05-28. 
  12. ^ "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei) and the WTO". World Trade Organization. http://www.wto.org/english/theWTO_e/countries_e/chinese_taipei_e.htm. Retrieved on 2009-06-07. 

Further reading

External links

Coordinates: 22°57′N 120°12′E / 22.95, 120.2

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