TAIWAN
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Taiwan, formally known as the Republic of China (RoC), is located in the western Pacific Ocean and is separated from mainland China by the Taiwan Strait. Covering an area of roughly 36,000 square kilometers, it shares maritime boundaries with Japan to the northeast, the Philippines to the south, and mainland China to the west.
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The island is bordered by the East China Sea to the north, the Philippine Sea to the east, the Luzon Strait to the south, and the South China Sea to the southwest.
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Climate: Taiwan experiences a subtropical climate in the north and a tropical climate in the south. Summers are typically hot and humid, while winters are mild, though temperatures can drop in higher-altitude regions.
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Due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," Taiwan is highly susceptible to earthquakes. The region accounts for about 90% of the world's seismic activity. Since 1980, the island and its surrounding waters have recorded approximately 2,000 earthquakes with magnitudes of 4.0 or higher, including over 100 tremors exceeding 5.5 in magnitude, as reported by the USGS
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Taiwan has been home to indigenous communities for thousands of years. During the 1600s, it briefly came under Dutch and Spanish control. In 1684, the Qing dynasty integrated Taiwan into Fujian province before designating it as a separate province in 1885.
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After the Qing dynasty lost a war to Japan, Taiwan became a Japanese colony in 1895. Following World War II in 1945, it was handed over to the Republic of China (ROC) government.
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In 1949, after losing the civil war to Mao Zedong’s communist forces, the Republic of China government retreated to Taiwan and established it as its new capital, retaining the formal name of the Republic of China.
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Meanwhile, Mao established the People’s Republic of China (PRC), asserting that it was the sole legitimate government representing all of China, including Taiwan, as the ROC’s successor.
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For years, the Republic of China, based in Taipei, claimed to be the legitimate authority over all of China. However, in 1971, it was expelled from the United Nations, which recognized the Beijing government instead.
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Despite this, Taiwan operates with de facto independence, as it elects its own leaders and has a defined territory, military, passport, and currency. However, most countries do not officially recognize it as an independent state.
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Taiwan’s government maintains that the Republic of China is a sovereign entity and argues that Beijing has no authority over it, as the PRC has never governed the island or played any role in its leadership selection.
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At present, only 12 countries officially recognize Taiwan, most of which are small, developing nations. However, major Western countries and U.S. allies maintain unofficial but strong relations with Taiwan, recognizing its passport and establishing de facto embassies in their respective capitals. Taiwanese citizens can travel to most countries using their passport
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The U.S. State Department stated that it had made a routine update to the Taiwan section of its website, which included the removal of language explicitly stating that the U.S. does not support Taiwan’s formal independence. These changes were welcomed by the government in Taipei.
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The revised fact sheet continues to affirm Washington’s opposition to any unilateral alterations to the status quo, whether from Taiwan or China, which considers the self-governed island as part of its territory.
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Notably, the updated document omits the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence.” It also highlights Taiwan’s involvement in a Pentagon-led technology and semiconductor development initiative and affirms U.S. support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations “where applicable.”
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While the United States does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it remains the island’s most significant international ally and is legally obligated to provide defensive support. A State Department spokesperson reiterated that “the United States remains committed to its one China policy,” meaning that Washington does not take an official stance on Taiwan’s sovereignty but acknowledges China’s position on the matter
- In 1954-55, and 1958, the PRC bombed the Jinmen, Mazu, and Dachen islands under Taiwan's control, drawing in the US.
- Congress passed the Formosa Resolution authorizing President Dwight D Eisenhower to defend Taiwanese (Republic of China- ROC) territory.
- In 1955, Premier Zhou En-lai declared at the Bandung Conference that he wanted negotiations with the US. But as civil war broke out in Lebanon in 1958, China resumed the bombing, provoking the US to supply Taiwanese outposts on the islands.
- The people's Republic of China (PRC) i.e. mainland China and ROC (Taiwan) then arrived at an arrangement to bomb each other's garrisons on alternate days-this continued until 1971.
- Taiwan became the non-communist frontier against China during the Cold war. It was described as an "unsinkable aircraft carrier" underscoring its strategic significance.
- It was only in 1971 that the US inaugurated ties with Mainland China through the secret diplomacy of Henry Kissinger, national security adviser to President Richard Nixon.
- In 1975, Chiang Kai-shek died, martial law was lifted, and Taiwan got its first democratic reforms.
- U.S. recognized the communist party that ruled People's Republic of China (PRC) as the legitimate government of China in 1979, ending its official relationship with Taiwan and abrogating its mutual defense treaty with the island.
- The US has a policy of strategic ambiguity towards Taiwan. This means that it maintains ties with Taipei, and sells weapons to it, but officially subscribes to the PRC's "One China Policy" in which Taiwan does not exist as a separate entity.
- Just 14 countries around the world recognize Taiwan. Most are very small, many are remote island nations. As the British prepared to exit Hong Kong in 1999, the "One China, Two Systems" solution was offered to Taiwan as well, but it was rejected by the Taiwanese.
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For Prelims: People’s Republic of China (PRC), Republic of China (RoC), Henry Kissinger, East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, One China Policy, QUAD, and AUKUS.
For Mains: 1. Discuss the rise of tensions between China and Taiwan and what are the serious implications for India.
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Previous year Question1. Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news? (UPSC 2022)
A. It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around the South China Sea.
B. China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in the East China Sea.
C. A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defense capabilities.
D. Though the International Court of Justice declared them as no man's land, some South-East Asian countries claim them.
Answer: B
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