Taiwan (island)

Taiwan (island)
Name	Taiwan (island)
Native name	臺灣
Capital	Taipei
Largest city	New Taipei City
Area km2	36193
Population estimate	23 million
Density km2	635
Official languages	Standard Chinese
Currency	New Taiwan dollar
Time zone	National Standard Time
Drives on	right
Iso code	TW

Taiwan (island) Taiwan (island) is an island in East Asia located off the southeastern coast of Mainland China in the East China Sea and adjacent to the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea. The island hosts major cities such as Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Tainan and functions as a hub for shipping lanes near the Taiwan Strait, the Ryukyu Islands, and the Luzon Strait. Taiwan's strategic position has made it central to regional affairs involving actors like the People's Republic of China, the United States, and Japan.

Geography

The island occupies the northern rim of the Philippine Sea Plate and features the Central Mountain Range, with peaks such as Yushan and Xueshan, and river systems including the Zhuoshui River and Danshui River. Coastal plains surround the mountains, encompassing the Taipei Basin and the Pingtung Plain, while offshore islets include Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, situated near Fujian. The island's climate ranges from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south, influenced by the East Asian Monsoon and frequent typhoon tracks affecting ports like Keelung and Kaohsiung.

History

Indigenous Austronesian peoples such as the Siraya, Amis people, and Atayal people inhabited the island before contacts with European colonialism and imperial China. The 17th century saw colonization by the Dutch East India Company at Fort Zeelandia and the Spanish Empire at Fort San Domingo, followed by the rule of the Kingdom of Tungning under Koxinga after the Ming–Qing transition. The Qing dynasty later incorporated the island, which was ceded to Japan in the Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895) and governed as Taiwan under Japanese rule until the Pacific War. After World War II, administration passed to the Republic of China; following the Chinese Civil War, the Kuomintang retreated to the island, leading to decades marked by the White Terror, the presidency of Chiang Kai-shek, and later democratic transition under leaders such as Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian. Recent decades have seen evolving relations with the People's Republic of China, interactions with the United States presidential administrations, and participation in international forums like the World Health Assembly under complex diplomatic conditions.

Politics and administration

The island's political framework centers in Taipei and includes parties such as the Kuomintang and the Democratic Progressive Party, with presidencies held by figures like Tsai Ing-wen and Ma Ying-jeou. Administrative divisions include special municipalities such as New Taipei City, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, as well as counties like Hualien County and Pingtung County. The island's legal system traces influences to Civil Law traditions and reforms under the Constitution of the Republic of China (Taiwan), while security arrangements involve partnerships and instruments such as sales of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and cooperation with organizations like the United States Indo-Pacific Command in a regional context shaped by interactions with the People's Liberation Army Navy and the Ministry of National Defense (Republic of China).

Economy

The island is an advanced industrial economy known for semiconductor manufacturing centered around firms like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and electronics corporations such as Foxconn and Asus. Major ports including Keelung and Kaohsiung support trade linking markets in China, United States, Japan, and Southeast Asia, while financial institutions like the Bank of Taiwan and the Taiwan Stock Exchange facilitate capital flows. Key sectors include information technology, petrochemicals with companies like CPC Corporation, Taiwan, and high-value agriculture in regions such as Yunlin County and Pingtung County; economic policy has been shaped by trade pacts, investment from conglomerates like the Formosa Plastics Group, and global supply chain dynamics exemplified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Demographics and society

Populations include descendants of Han Chinese migrants—originating from provinces like Fujian and Guangdong—and indigenous groups such as the Paiwan people and Bunun people, with languages including Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka languages, and Standard Chinese. Urbanization concentrates in Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area and the Kaohsiung metropolitan area, while cultural life features institutions like the National Palace Museum, festivals including Lunar New Year celebrations and the Dragon Boat Festival, and contemporary arts scenes in venues like the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Social movements have included the Sunflower Student Movement, labor activism in industrial centers, and public health campaigns led by bodies such as the Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan).

Environment and biodiversity

The island's varied topography supports endemic flora and fauna in locations like Taroko Gorge and Alishan National Scenic Area, with species such as the Formosan black bear and the Formosan sika deer. Conservation efforts involve national parks like Yushan National Park and marine protections around the Penghu Islands and Green Island, addressing threats from urban expansion in the Tamsui River basin, invasive species, and coral reef degradation. Environmental activism has focused on issues involving energy policy—controversies over nuclear facilities such as Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant—and commitments to renewable initiatives promoted by local governments including Taichung City and research institutions like Academia Sinica.

Category:Islands of East Asia