Editing History of Taiwan (section)

== Republic of China (1945–present)==
{{Main|History of Taiwan (1945–present)}}
{{See also|History of the Republic of China|Political status of Taiwan}}

===Taiwan under martial law===
{{See also|February 28 Incident|White Terror (Taiwan)}}
[[File:228_by_Li_Jun.jpg|thumb|Woodcut of the mass killings which took place during the February 28 Incident]]

After Japan's surrender, most of Taiwan's (approximately 300,000) Japanese residents were [[World War II evacuation and expulsion|expelled]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Morris|first=Andrew D.|url={{GBurl|id=jqwKCgAAQBAJ}}|title=Japanese Taiwan: Colonial Rule and its Contested Legacy|date=30 July 2015|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-4725-7674-3|pages=115–118|language=en}}</ref>

The Republic of China established the [[Taiwan Provincial Government]] in September 1945<ref>[http://www.hrc.ntu.edu.tw/attachments/9709/japan.pdf 「去日本化」「再中國化」：戰後台灣文化重建（1945–1947）,Chapter 1.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722235726/http://www.hrc.ntu.edu.tw/attachments/9709/japan.pdf |date=2011-07-22 }} publisher: 麥田出版社, author: 黃英哲, December 19, 2007</ref> and proclaimed October 25 1945, the day on which the Japanese surrendered, "Taiwan [[Retrocession Day]]". By 1938 about 309,000 Japanese lived in [[Taiwan]].<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.jstor.org/pss/2752241 | jstor=2752241 | title=Formosa (Taiwan) Under Japanese Rule | last1=Grajdanzev | first1=A. J. | journal=Pacific Affairs | date=1942 | volume=15 | issue=3 | pages=311–324 | doi=10.2307/2752241 }}</ref> Between the Japanese surrender of Taiwan in 1945 and April 25, 1946, the Republic of China forces repatriated 90% of the Japanese living in Taiwan to Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2003-07/21/content_539034.htm |title=Taiwan history: Chronology of important events |access-date=2016-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416173855/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2003-07/21/content_539034.htm |archive-date=2016-04-16 }}</ref> During the immediate postwar period, the Kuomintang (KMT) administration on Taiwan was repressive and corrupt compared to the preceding Japanese rule, leading to local discontent. Anti-[[waishengren|mainlander]] violence flared on 28 February 1947.{{sfnp|Kerr|1966|pp=254–255}} During the ensuing crackdown by the KMT administration, in what became known as the [[February 28 Incident]], tens of thousands of people were killed or arrested, and the incident became a [[taboo]] topic. The Memorial Foundation of 228 was established to provide compensation for the victims of the crackdown.  From 1995 to 2006, the foundation approved compensation in 2,264 cases.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.228.org.tw/en_pages.php?sn=3 |title=Operation |publisher=[[National 228 Memorial Museum]] |date=1995-04-07 |accessdate=2022-03-03}}</ref> Being controlled by the Republic of China, Taiwan inherited the international pronouncement of the ROC government including the 1932 [[Diplomatic correspondence|Note Verbale]] to France, where China declared that its southernmost territory was the Paracels.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite book |last1=Chemillier-Gendreau |first1=Monique |title=Sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands |last2=Sutcliffe |first2=H.L. |last3=McDonald |first3=M. |date=2000-01-01 |publisher=Brill {{!}} Nijhoff |isbn=978-90-411-1381-8 |chapter=Annex 10 |doi=10.1163/9789004479425_008}}</ref>{{Dubious|date=June 2024|reason=Ed8694 has a history of unverifiable edits saying different things based on the same citations.}}

From the 1930s onward the [[Chinese Civil War]] was underway in mainland China between [[Chiang Kai-shek]]'s ROC government and the [[Chinese Communist Party]] led by [[Mao Zedong]]. When the Communists gained complete control of mainland China in 1949, two million refugees, predominantly from the Nationalist government, military, and business community, [[Chinese Nationalist Party retreat to Taiwan|fled to Taiwan]]. On October 1 1949, the [[People's Republic of China]] (P.R.C.) was founded in mainland China by the victorious communists; several months earlier, Chiang Kai-shek had established a provisional ROC capital in [[Taipei]] and moved his [[Nanjing]]-based government there after fleeing [[Chengdu]]. Under Nationalist rule, the mainlanders dominated the government and civil services.{{sfnp|Gates|1981}}

The KMT viewed their [[Chinese Nationalist Party retreat to Taiwan|retreat to Taiwan]] as a temporary one; Chiang Kai-shek said, "Prepare for one year, counter-attack in two years, sweep out the enemy in three years and succeed within five years." This led them, in the first few years after the retreat, to prioritize military armament and preparation over economic development.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Crook |first1=Steven |title=Exploring Hsinchu's military past |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2022/09/03/2003784661 |website=taipeitimes.com |date=3 September 2022 |publisher=Taipei Times |access-date=3 September 2022}}</ref>

===Economic development===
[[Image:Taiwan-1M-Yuan.jpg|thumb|80px|The [[Chinese Civil War]] led to severe inflation. Currency was issued in denominations of 1 million [[Old Taiwan dollar]]s.]]

The KMT took control of Taiwan's monopolies, which had been owned by the Japanese before World War II. They nationalized approximately 17% of Taiwan's [[GNP]] and voided Japanese bond certificates held by Taiwanese investors.{{sfnp|Singh|2010|p=50}} These real estate holdings, as well as American aid such as the [[China Aid Act]] and the [[Sino-American Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction]], helped to ensure that Taiwan would recover quickly from war. The Kuomintang government also moved the entire [[official gold reserves|gold reserve]] from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan,<ref>{{cite web |title=How Chiang spirited China's gold away from the Reds |date=6 June 2010 |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/716329/how-chiang-spirited-chinas-gold-away-reds}}</ref> and used this reserve to stabilize the newly issued [[New Taiwan dollar]] and put a stop to [[hyperinflation]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Li|first=Shih-hui|date=2005|title=The Currency Conversion in Postwar Taiwan: Gold Standard from 1949 to 1950|journal=The Kyoto Economic Review|volume=74|issue=2 (157)|pages=191–203|jstor=43213319|issn=1349-6786}}</ref>

From 1950 to 1965, Taiwan received a total of $1.5 billion in economic aid and $2.4 billion in military [[United States foreign aid|aid from the United States]]. In 1965, when Taiwan had established a solid financial base, all American aid ceased.{{sfnp|Chan|1997}} Having accomplished that, [[Premier of the Republic of China|ROC premier]] [[Chiang Ching-kuo]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/en/content?ID=3933 |title=Ten Major Construction Projects - 台灣大百科全書 Encyclopedia of Taiwan |access-date=2012-07-19 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419042325/http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/en/content?ID=3933 |archive-date=2013-04-19 }}</ref> (the son of [[Chiang Kai-shek]]) started state projects such as the [[Ten Major Construction Projects]], which provided the infrastructure for building a strong export-driven economy.

=== Democratic reforms ===

After Chiang Kai-shek died in April 1975, he was succeeded to the [[President of the Republic of China|presidency]] by [[Yen Chia-kan]], while his son [[Chiang Ching-kuo]] succeeded to the leadership of the Kuomintang and became president in 1978. Formerly the head of the feared [[secret police]], Chiang Ching-kuo recognized that gaining foreign support to secure the ROC's future security required reform. His administration saw a gradual loosening of political controls, a transition towards democracy, and moves toward the [[Taiwanization]] of the regime.{{sfnp|Hu|2005|pp=26–27}} Opponents of the Nationalists were no longer forbidden to hold meetings or publish papers. Though opposition political parties were still illegal, when the [[Democratic Progressive Party]] was established as the first opposition party in 1986, President Chiang decided against dissolving the group or persecuting its leaders. Its candidates officially ran in elections as independents in the [[Tangwai movement]]. In the following year, Chiang ended martial law and allowed family visits to [[mainland China]].{{sfnp|Hu|2005|pp=32–43}} Chiang selected [[Lee Teng-hui]] to be his vice president. The move followed other reforms giving more power to native born citizens and calmed anti-KMT sentiments.{{sfnp|Hu|2005|pp=33–34}}

===Democratic period===
[[File:Taiwan population density map.svg|thumb|Population density map of Taiwan in 2019]]
The [[2000 ROC presidential election|2000 presidential election]] marked the end of the Kuomintang (KMT) rule. DPP candidate [[Chen Shui-bian]] won a three-way race.<ref>Asia Society, "Opposition Wins Taiwan Election," (2000)</ref> [[2004 Taiwan presidential election|In 2004]], President Chen was re-elected to a second four-year term after an assassination attempt which occurred the day before the election. Police investigators have said that the most likely suspect is believed to have been [[Chen Yi-hsiung]], who was later found dead.<ref>Reuters, "Taiwan election shooting suspect dead," (2005)</ref>

In 2007, President Chen proposed a policy of [[Four Wants and One Without]], which in substance states that Taiwan wants independence; Taiwan wants the rectification of its name; Taiwan wants a new constitution; Taiwan wants development; and Taiwanese politics is without [[Left–right political spectrum|the question of left or right]], but only the question of [[Chinese unification|unification]] or [[Taiwan independence movement|independence]]. The reception of this proposed policy in Taiwanese general public was unclear. It, however, was met with a cold reception by both the PRC and the United States. The PRC Foreign Minister emphasised that the [[Anti-Secession Law]] was not a piece of [[Unenforceable|unenforceable legislation]], while the US Department of State spokesman [[Sean McCormack]] described Chen's policy as "unhelpful".{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

The KMT also retained control of the legislature in the [[2008 Republic of China legislative election|Legislative Yuan elections in January 2008]]. In the [[2008 Republic of China presidential election|presidential election in May 2008]], KMT candidate [[Ma Ying-jeou]] ran on a platform supporting friendlier relations with mainland China and economic reforms, and defeated DPP candidate [[Frank Hsieh]] with 58.48% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Taiwan's 2008 Elections: A New Direction for the 'Other China'? {{!}} Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective |url=https://origins.osu.edu/article/taiwans-2008-elections-new-direction-other-china |website=origins.osu.edu|date=13 June 2008 }}</ref>

On the same day President Chen left office, losing presidential [[Legal immunity|immunity]], the Supreme Prosecutor's Office announced that they were launching an inquiry into corruption charges regarding Chen.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7409956.stm Taiwan ex-leader faces graft case]</ref> Later in 2008, members of his administration, including [[Chiou I-jen]], a former National Security Council secretary-general, and Yeh Sheng-mao, former director-general of the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau, were arrested on [[Chen Shui-bian corruption charges|corruption charges]]. Chiou I-jen was found not guilty,<ref>[http://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/06/21/2003535883 High Court finds Chiou I-jen not guilty] Taipei Times</ref> while Yeh Sheng-mao was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chuang |first=Jimmy |date=5 Dec 2008 |page=1 |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/12/05/2003430310 |title=Yeh Sheng-mao sentenced to 10 years in prison |work=Taipei Times}}</ref>

Ma was re-elected, and the KMT retained its majority in the [[Legislative Yuan]], in combined elections in January 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=Taiwan's 2012 Presidential and Legislative Elections: Winners, Losers, and Implications - Foreign Policy Research Institute |url=https://www.fpri.org/article/2012/01/taiwans-2012-presidential-and-legislative-elections-winners-losers-and-implications/ |website=www.fpri.org}}</ref>

In March and April 2014, students protesting against undemocratic methods used by the KMT [[Sunflower Student Movement|occupied the parliament building]]. In the end, the government agreed to put on hold the ratification of an agreement with China which they had pushed through without proper debate. This event had far reaching consequences, and changed the mood of the electorate. In the [[2016 Republic of China general election|combined elections in January 2016]] the opposition candidate for president, [[Tsai Ing-wen]], of the DPP won with 56% of the vote, and the opposition DPP was catapulted into an outright majority in the parliament. The election marked the first time a non-KMT party won a majority in the legislature.<ref>{{cite web |title=Taiwan Opposition Party Wins Presidency and Legislative Majority in Historic Elections {{!}} U.S.- CHINA {{!}} ECONOMIC and SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION |url=https://www.uscc.gov/research/taiwan-opposition-party-wins-presidency-and-legislative-majority-historic-elections |website=www.uscc.gov}}</ref>

The local [[2018 Taiwanese local elections|elections]] held on November 24, 2018, resulted in a major setback for the DPP majority and led to President [[Tsai Ing-wen]] resignation as leader of the party.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bush |first1=Richard C. |title=Taiwan's local elections, explained |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2018/12/05/taiwans-local-elections-explained/ |website=Brookings |publisher=[[Brookings Institutution]] |access-date=8 December 2018 |date=5 December 2018}}</ref> The DPP lost a total of nine legislative seats, giving the KMT control of the majority of the 22 seats.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hsiao |first1=Russell |title=The Global Taiwan Brief Volume 3, Issue 23 |url=http://globaltaiwan.org/2018/11/vol-3-issue-23/#KharisTempleman11282018 |website=Global Taiwan Institute |date=28 November 2018}}</ref> KMT mayoral candidates won in [[New Taipei City]], [[Taichung]] and [[Kaohsiung]], the latter of which has been a political stronghold for the DPP for 20 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Horton |first1=Chris |title=Taiwan's President Quits as Party Chief After Stinging Losses in Local Races |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/24/world/asia/taiwan-election-results.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=8 December 2018 |date=24 November 2018}}</ref>

In May 2019, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.<ref>{{cite news |title=Taiwan becomes first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/17/taiwan-becomes-first-asian-county-to-legalise-same-sex-marriage |work=The Guardian |date=17 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref> By the end of the 2010s the [[semiconductor industry in Taiwan]] had become globally dominant with [[TSMC]] the global leader in high end semiconductor fabrication. The industry became so important that it was seen by many as a "silicon shield" protecting the country from China.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wingfield-Hayes |first1=Rupert |title=The secret sauce for Taiwan's chip superstardom |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67213293 |website=bbc.com |date=17 December 2023 |publisher=BBC |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref>

In January, 2020, Tsai Ing-wen was re-elected in the [[2020 Taiwanese presidential election|presidential election]]. In the [[2020 Taiwanese legislative election|parliamentary election]] President Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won majority 61 out of 113 seats. The Kuomintang (KMT) won 38 seats.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51077553|title = Taiwan election: Tsai Ing-wen wins second presidential term|work = BBC News|date = 11 January 2020}}</ref>

The February 2022 full military [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] changed Taiwanese public perceptions of the Chinese threat and what could be done to counter it. The invasion led to a quickening of Taiwan's post-authoritarian military reform, new weapons acquisitions, and significantly higher military spending, as well as public and private [[Civil defense in Taiwan|investment in civil defense]].<ref name="ABC reserves" >{{cite news |title=Taiwan's government boosts military reservists training as Ukraine war underlines China threat |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-13/ukraine-war-gives-taiwans-military-reservist-reform-new-impetus/100906062 |newspaper=ABC News |date=12 March 2022 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=13 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hawkins |first1=Amy |title='Ukrainian strategy has become a model': Taiwanese beef up military to face China threat |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/09/ukrainian-strategy-has-become-a-model-taiwanese-beef-up-military-to-face-china-threat |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=9 July 2023 |access-date=10 July 2023}}</ref> The August [[2022 visit by Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan]] resulted in increased tensions between Taiwan and China while reinforcing US-Taiwan ties.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last1=Qin |first1=Amy |last2=Mozur |first2=Paul |date=2 August 2022 |title=After Pelosi's arrival, China announced military drills in nearby waters. |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/02/world/asia/china-taiwan-pelosi.html |access-date=8 August 2022 |archive-date=7 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807071411/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/02/world/asia/china-taiwan-pelosi.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In response to the trip the PLA conducted [[2022 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan|military exercises around Taiwan]], included missile launches which overflew Taiwan.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=2022-08-10 |title=China Says Taiwan Military Drills Over, Plans Regular Patrols |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-10/china-says-taiwan-military-drills-over-plans-regular-patrols |access-date=2022-08-14}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last1=Pollard |first1=Martin Quin |last2=Lee |first2=Yimou |date=2022-08-11 |title=China military 'completes tasks' around Taiwan, plans regular patrols |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-extends-military-drills-around-taiwan-after-pelosi-visit-2022-08-10/ |access-date=2022-08-14}}</ref>

In January 2024, [[Lai Ching-te|William Lai Ching-te]] of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party won Taiwan's [[2024 Taiwanese presidential election|presidential elections]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Photos: Taiwan holds closely watched presidential and parliamentary polls |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2024/1/13/taiwan-votes-in-closely-watched-presidential-and-parliamentary-elections |work=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> However, no party won a majority in the simultaneous Taiwan's [[2024 Taiwanese legislative election|legislative election]] for the first time since 2004, meaning 51 seats for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), 52 seats for the Kuomintang (KMT), and the [[Taiwan People's Party]] (TPP) secured eight seats.<ref>{{cite news |title=No party gets majority in Legislature; KMT wins most seats - Focus Taiwan |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202401130014 |work=Focus Taiwan - CNA English News |date=13 January 2024}}</ref>