Taiwan Province
Encyclopedia
Taiwan Province is one of the two administrative divisions referred to as provinces and is controlled by the Republic of China
(ROC). The province covers approximately 73% of the territory controlled by the Republic of China. Geographically it covers the majority of the island of Taiwan
as well as all the smaller islands surrounding it, the largest of which are the Penghu archipelago, the Green Island
and the Orchid Island
. Taiwan Province excludes the Kinmen
and Lienchiang counties, which are administered as Fujian province, and the special municipalities of Taipei
, Kaohsiung
, Taichung
, Tainan
, and New Taipei, all of which located geographically within the island of Taiwan.
However, since 1997 most of the Taiwan provincial government's functions have been transferred to the central government of the Republic of China
following a constitutional amendment, now the Taiwan provincial government effectively becomes a nominal institution under executive yuan
's administration.
The People's Republic of China
(PRC) in mainland China
regards itself as the "successor state" of the Republic of China
(ROC), which the PRC claims no longer legitimately exists, following the defeat of ROC forces in Mainland China. The PRC further claims that, as such, the PRC has sovereignty over all of China, which it claims the island of Taiwan is a part of, even though the PRC itself has never had control of Taiwan or other ROC-held territories. The ROC disputes this position
, maintaining that it still legitimately exists and that the PRC has not succeeded it to sovereignty.
, Koxinga
's (Cheng Ch'eng Kung) grandson Zheng Keshuang and ruler of Taiwan submitted to the Qing Dynasty
(then romanised as Ch'ing Dynasty). Then the Qing Dynasty ruled Taiwan (including Penghu) as a prefecture
of Fujian Province. In 1875, Taipei Prefecture was separated from the original prefecture. In 1885, Taiwan was made a separate province.
In 1895, Taiwan was ceded to Japan
following the First Sino-Japanese War
. Under Japanese rule, the province was abolished in favour of Japanese-style division
s. After Japan surrendered in 1945 Republic of China
obtained control of Taiwan.
The ROC government immediately established Taiwan Provincial Government under first Chief Executive Chen Yi
in September 1945. Chen was extremely unpopular and his rule led to an uprising - the 228 incident
. Chen was recalled in May 1947 and the government-general was abolished.
When the Republic of China government was relocated to Taipei in 1949 as a result of the Kuomintang
's (KMT) defeat by the Chinese Communist Party
forces in the Chinese Civil War
, the provincial administration remained in place under the claim that the ROC was still the government of all of China
even though the opposition argued that it overlapped inefficiently with the national government.
The seat of the provincial government was moved from Taipei
to Zhongxing New Village (Chunghsing Village) in 1956. In 1967 and 1979 respectively, the cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung were separated from the province and turned into special municipalities.
Until 1992, the governor of Taiwan province was appointed by the ROC central government. The office was often a stepping stone to higher office.
In 1992, the post of the governor of the province was opened to election. The then-opposition Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP) agreed to retain the province with an elected governor in the hopes of creating a "Yeltsin
effect" in which a popular local leader could overwhelm the national government. These hopes proved unfulfilled as then-Kuomintang member James Soong
was elected governor of the Taiwan province by a wide margin defeating the DPP candidate Chen Ding-nan
.
In 1997, as the result of an agreement between the KMT and the DPP, the administration of the province was streamlined in curtailed constitutional changes. For example, the post of provincial governor and the provincial assembly were both abolished and replaced with a nine-member special council. Although the stated purpose was administrative efficiency, Soong and his supporters claim that it was actually intended to destroy James Soong
's power base and eliminate him from political life, though it did not have this effect. In addition, the provincial legislature was abolished while the Legislative Yuan
was expanded to include some of the former provincial legislators.
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The provincial administration has been greatly streamlined in 1998, leaving counties and provincial cities the primary divisions in Taiwan Province. In contrast to the past where the head of Taiwan province was considered a major official, the Governor of the Taiwan Provincial Government after 1999 has been considered a very minor position.
. The major operations of the provincial government, such as managing provincial highways and the Bank of Taiwan
, have been transferred to the Executive Yuan.
Note: The cities of Kaohsiung
, New Taipei, Taichung
, Tainan
, and Taipei
are administered directly by the central government and are not part of Taiwan province. The PRC, which does not administer Taiwan Province, does not recognize Kaohsiung
, New Taipei, Taichung
, Tainan
, and Taipei
as central municipalities and lists them as provincial municipalities.
The Senkaku Islands
, which is currently administered by Japan
is disputed by both the ROC and PRC which claims them as Tiaoyutai/Diaoyutai Islands. The ROC government claims them as part of Toucheng Township, Yilan County.
since 1945:
, the position was legalized in Taiwan Province Administrative Official Public Ministry Organization Statute (臺灣省行政長官公署組織條例 Táiwān-shěng xíngzhèng zhǎngguān gōngshǔ zǔzhī tiáolì) of September 20, 1945.
. The major operations of the provincial government, such as managing provincial highways and the Bank of Taiwan
, have been transferred to the Executive Yuan.
and its surrounding islets, including the Pescadores
, as parts of its Taiwan Province. The PRC claims that Taiwan is part of China, that the PRC succeeded the ROC as the sole legitimate authority in all of China
upon its founding in 1949, and that therefore Taiwan is part of the PRC.
The claimed official borders and divisions of the Taiwan Province of People's Republic of China mirror those of the ROC Taiwan Province before 1949. The PRC has not acknowledged any changes made post-1949 by the ROC. Thus, the elevation of Taipei
, Kaohsiung
, Taipei County
(now New Taipei City), Taichung
, and Tainan
to be provincial-level cities have not been recognized by the PRC, and all of these cities appear as part of Taiwan Province in publications issued by the PRC. Also, the PRC still regards Taipei as the capital city of Taiwan Province, instead of Jhongsing Village
which is the capital of the ROC Taiwan Province. This is analogous to the previous practice of the ROC in producing maps depicting mainland
administrative boundaries the way they were in 1949.
Both the PRC and the ROC claim the Diaoyutai (Senkaku) Islands
, administered by Japan, as a part of their own respective Taiwan Provinces.
to represent Taiwan Province. These delegates have Hokkien and Holo ancestry whose ancestors were in Taiwan at some point, and are elected by a constituency comprising people with Taiwanese ancestry, not by present residents of Taiwan
. As the older members retire or die, newer members tend to be born in mainland China
.
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(ROC). The province covers approximately 73% of the territory controlled by the Republic of China. Geographically it covers the majority of the island of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
as well as all the smaller islands surrounding it, the largest of which are the Penghu archipelago, the Green Island
Green Island, Taiwan
Green Island is a small volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean, about off the eastern coast of Taiwan. In the 19th century it was known as Samasana Island and the Japanese called it Kasho-to . The island is 15.092 km² at high tide and 17.329 km² at low tide...
and the Orchid Island
Orchid Island
Orchid Island is a 45-km² volcanic island off the southeastern coast of Taiwan island and separated from the Batanes of the Philippines by the Bashi Channel of the Luzon Strait. It is governed as Lanyu Township of Taitung County...
. Taiwan Province excludes the Kinmen
Kinmen
Kinmen , also known as Quemoy , is a small archipelago of several islands administered by the Republic of China : Greater Kinmen, Lesser Kinmen, and some islets. Administratively, it is Kinmen County of Fujian Province, ROC. The county is claimed by the People's Republic of China as part of its...
and Lienchiang counties, which are administered as Fujian province, and the special municipalities of Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, Taichung
Taichung
-Demographics:Taichung’s population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city than males.24.32% of residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly....
, Tainan
Tainan
Tainan City is a city in southern Taiwan. It is the fifth largest after New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. It was formerly a provincial city, and in 2010, the provincial city merged with the adjacent Tainan County to form a single special municipality. Tainan faces the Taiwan Strait in...
, and New Taipei, all of which located geographically within the island of Taiwan.
However, since 1997 most of the Taiwan provincial government's functions have been transferred to the central government of the Republic of China
Government of the Republic of China
The Republic of China was formally established by Dr. Sun Yat-sen in 1912 in Nanjing under the Provisional Constitution of the Republic of China but this government was moved to Beijing in the same year and continued as the internationally recognized government of China until 1928. In the history...
following a constitutional amendment, now the Taiwan provincial government effectively becomes a nominal institution under executive yuan
Executive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
's administration.
The People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
(PRC) in mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
regards itself as the "successor state" of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(ROC), which the PRC claims no longer legitimately exists, following the defeat of ROC forces in Mainland China. The PRC further claims that, as such, the PRC has sovereignty over all of China, which it claims the island of Taiwan is a part of, even though the PRC itself has never had control of Taiwan or other ROC-held territories. The ROC disputes this position
Political status of Taiwan
The controversy regarding the political status of Taiwan hinges on whether Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu should remain effectively independent as territory of the Republic of China , become unified with the territories now governed by the People's Republic of China , or formally declare...
, maintaining that it still legitimately exists and that the PRC has not succeeded it to sovereignty.
History
In 1683, following a naval engagement with Admiral Shi LangShi Lang
Shi Lang was a Chinese admiral who served under the Ming and Qing Dynasties. He was commander-in-chief of the Manchu fleets which destroyed the power of the Zheng family in the 1660s, and led the conquest of the Kingdom of Tungning in 1681.-Early life and career:Shi Lang was born to a...
, Koxinga
Koxinga
Koxinga is the customary Western spelling of the popular appellation of Zheng Chenggong , a military leader who was born in 1624 in Hirado, Japan to Zheng Zhilong, a Chinese merchant/pirate, and his Japanese wife and died in 1662 on the island of Formosa .A Ming loyalist and the arch commander of...
's (Cheng Ch'eng Kung) grandson Zheng Keshuang and ruler of Taiwan submitted to the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
(then romanised as Ch'ing Dynasty). Then the Qing Dynasty ruled Taiwan (including Penghu) as a prefecture
Prefecture
A prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction or subdivision in any of various countries and within some international church structures, and in antiquity a Roman district governed by an appointed prefect.-Antiquity:...
of Fujian Province. In 1875, Taipei Prefecture was separated from the original prefecture. In 1885, Taiwan was made a separate province.
In 1895, Taiwan was ceded to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
following the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
. Under Japanese rule, the province was abolished in favour of Japanese-style division
Political divisions of Taiwan (1895-1945)
As per the Treaty of Shimonoseki of 1895, Taiwan fell under Japanese rule after the First Sino-Japanese War. The political divisions changed frequently between 1895 and 1898. There were still several changes until the Japanese political system was adopted in 1920...
s. After Japan surrendered in 1945 Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
obtained control of Taiwan.
The ROC government immediately established Taiwan Provincial Government under first Chief Executive Chen Yi
Chen Yi (Kuomintang)
Chen Yi and later Gongqia , sobriquet Tuisu ; 1883 – June 18, 1950) was the Chief Executive and Garrison Commander of Taiwan after it was surrendered by Japan to the Republic of China, which acted on behalf of the Allied Powers, in 1945...
in September 1945. Chen was extremely unpopular and his rule led to an uprising - the 228 incident
228 Incident
The 228 Incident, also known as the 228 Massacre, was an anti-government uprising in Taiwan that began on February 27, 1947, and was violently suppressed by the Kuomintang government. Estimates of the number of deaths vary from 10,000 to 30,000 or more...
. Chen was recalled in May 1947 and the government-general was abolished.
When the Republic of China government was relocated to Taipei in 1949 as a result of the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
's (KMT) defeat by the Chinese Communist Party
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
forces in the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
, the provincial administration remained in place under the claim that the ROC was still the government of all of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
even though the opposition argued that it overlapped inefficiently with the national government.
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
to Zhongxing New Village (Chunghsing Village) in 1956. In 1967 and 1979 respectively, the cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung were separated from the province and turned into special municipalities.
Until 1992, the governor of Taiwan province was appointed by the ROC central government. The office was often a stepping stone to higher office.
In 1992, the post of the governor of the province was opened to election. The then-opposition Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
(DPP) agreed to retain the province with an elected governor in the hopes of creating a "Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
effect" in which a popular local leader could overwhelm the national government. These hopes proved unfulfilled as then-Kuomintang member James Soong
James Soong
James Soong Chu-yu , is a politician in the Republic of China on Taiwan. He founded and chairs the People First Party, a smaller and more conservative party in the Kuomintang -led Pan-Blue Coalition....
was elected governor of the Taiwan province by a wide margin defeating the DPP candidate Chen Ding-nan
Chen Ding-nan
Chen Ding-Nan was a Taiwanese politician.-Entry into politics:As a Yilan County native, Chen received a bachelor's degree in Law from the National Taiwan University in 1966. After graduation Chen ran various business in Yilan...
.
In 1997, as the result of an agreement between the KMT and the DPP, the administration of the province was streamlined in curtailed constitutional changes. For example, the post of provincial governor and the provincial assembly were both abolished and replaced with a nine-member special council. Although the stated purpose was administrative efficiency, Soong and his supporters claim that it was actually intended to destroy James Soong
James Soong
James Soong Chu-yu , is a politician in the Republic of China on Taiwan. He founded and chairs the People First Party, a smaller and more conservative party in the Kuomintang -led Pan-Blue Coalition....
's power base and eliminate him from political life, though it did not have this effect. In addition, the provincial legislature was abolished while the Legislative Yuan
Legislative Yuan
The Legislative Yuan is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China .The Legislative Yuan is one of the five branches of government stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic of China, which follows Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People...
was expanded to include some of the former provincial legislators.
Government
Since the streamlining of the Taiwan Provincial Government in 1998, the government has been headed by a provincial council of nine members, led by the provincial governor. The members of the Provincial Council are all appointed by the President of the Republic of ChinaPresident of the Republic of China
The President of the Republic of China is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of China . The Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, to govern all of China...
. The major operations of the provincial government, such as managing provincial highways and the Bank of Taiwan
Bank of Taiwan
The Bank of Taiwan is a bank headquartered in Taipei, Republic of China . It is administered and owned by the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China.-History:...
, have been transferred to the Executive Yuan.
Divisions
Taiwan Province is divided into 12 counties (縣 xiàn) and 3 provincial cities (市 shì):| No. | Romanization | Chinese Chinese character Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese and Japanese , less frequently Korean , formerly Vietnamese , or other languages... | Hanyu Pinyin | Population | Area (km2) | |Province/City/County Seat | Map | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provincial cities (市 shì) | ' = Special Municipality (直轄市) = Provincial City (省轄市 or 市) = County (縣) |
|||||||
| 1 | Chiayi City | 嘉義市 | Jiāyì Shì | 272,390 | 60.0256 | East District | 東區 | |
| 2 | Hsinchu City | 新竹市 | Xīnzhú Shì | 415,344 | 104.1526 | North District | 北區 | |
| 3 | Keelung City | 基隆市 | Jīlóng Shì | 384,134 | 132.7589 | Zhongzheng District Jhongjheng District Jhongjheng District is a district of Keelung. It borders the East China Sea to the north and east, the Port of Keelung to the west, and the districts of Re-nai and Xinyi to the south.-External links:*... |
中正區 | |
| Counties (縣 xiàn) | ||||||||
| 4 | Changhua County Changhua County Changhua County is the smallest county in Taiwan located on the westside of Taiwan. It is officially governed as a county of the Republic of China .-Urban townships:# Beidou Township # Erlin Township... |
彰化縣 | Zhānghuà Xiàn | 1,307,286 | 1,074.3960 | Changhua City Changhua City Changhua City is the county seat of Changhua County in Taiwan. For many centuries the site was home to a settlement of Babuza people, a coastal tribe of Taiwanese aborigines. The name of the city is derived from the aboriginal word Poasoa .Changhua is best known for its landmark statue of the Buddha... |
彰化市 | |
| 5 | Chiayi County Chiayi County Chiayi County is a county in southwestern Taiwan surrounding but not including Chiayi City. Its historical name in Taiwanese Hokkien derives from Tsirosen in the Formosan languages... |
嘉義縣 | Jiāyì Xiàn | 543,248 | 1,903.6367 | Taibao City Taibao City Taibao City is the seat of Chiayi County, Taiwan. It was named after the government position of Wang De-lu , whose hometown is Taibao, in the 19th century.Taiwan High Speed Rail Chiayi station is located in Taibao.* Area: 66.90 km²... |
太保市 | |
| 6 | Hsinchu County Hsinchu County Hsinchu County is a county in north-western Taiwan. The population of the county is mainly Hakka; there is a Taiwanese aboriginal minority in the southeastern part of the county. Zhubei is the capital of Hsinchu, where the government office and county office is located... |
新竹縣 | Xīnzhú Xiàn | 513,015 | 1,427.5369 | Zhubei City | 竹北市 | |
| 7 | Hualien County Hualien County Hualien County is the largest county in Taiwan and is located on the mountainous eastern coast of Taiwan. It contains the island's largest port. It is the starting point of the Hualien-Taitung Line and the terminal point of North-Link Line of TRA... |
花蓮縣 | Huālián Xiàn | 338,805 | 4,628.5714 | Hualien City Hualien City Hualien City is the capital of Hualien County, Taiwan. It is located on the East coast of Taiwan, by the Pacific Ocean, and has a population of 110,000 inhabitants.- History :... |
花蓮市 | |
| 8 | Miaoli County Miaoli County Miaoli County is a county in western Taiwan. The name Miaoli was coined using two Hakka words, cat and raccoon dog , which phonetically approximate Pali , a community of Taokas people... |
苗栗縣 | Miáolì Xiàn | 560,968 | 1,820.3149 | Miaoli City Miaoli City Miaoli City is the capital of Miaoli County, Taiwan. Its name Miaoli was coined using two Hakka words, cat and city , which phonetically approximate Pali from one of the Formosan languages. Miaoli has a relatively high percentage of Hakka people. As of 2009, the population was 90,209.... |
苗栗市 | |
| 9 | Nantou County Nantou County Nantou County is the second largest county of Taiwan. It is also the only landlocked county in Taiwan. Its name derives from the Hoanya Taiwanese aboriginal word Ramtau. Nantou County is officially administered as a county of Taiwan.... |
南投縣 | Nántóu Xiàn | 526,491 | 4,106.4360 | Nantou City Nantou City Nantou City is located in the northwest of Nantou County, Taiwan, Republic of China. It lies between the Bagua Mountains and the Maoluo River and is the seat of Nantou County. Freeway No. 3 serves Nantou City... |
南投市 | |
| 10 | Penghu County | 澎湖縣 | Pénghú Xiàn | 96,918 | 126.8641 | Magong City | 馬公市 | |
| 11 | Pingtung County Pingtung County Pingtung County is a county in Southern Taiwan. Pingtung County is officially administered as a county of the Republic of China . The oldest national park in Taiwan, Kenting National Park, was established in Pingtung County in 1984... |
屏東縣 | Píngdōng Xiàn | 873,509 | 2,775.6003 | Pingtung City Pingtung City Pingtung City is the capital of Pingtung County, Taiwan.-Geography:Pingtung is located in Pingtung County, the southernmost county in Taiwan. It is located east of Kaohsiung and Fengshan, and centered between the western coast and the eastern mountain range. The climate is humid and extremely hot... |
屏東市 | |
| 12 | Taitung County Taitung County Taitung County is a county in eastern Taiwan. The name means "Eastern Taiwan". Taitung County is also known as 後山 by many of the locals, meaning behind the mountains or the back mountains. Taitung is officially administered as a county of Taiwan, Republic of China.Taitung runs along the south east... |
臺東縣，台東縣 | Táidōng Xiàn | 230,673 | 3,515.2526 | Taitung City Taitung City Taitung City is the county seat of Taitung County, Taiwan. It lies on the southeast coast of Taiwan facing the Pacific Ocean.The city is served by Taitung Airport. Taitung is a gateway to Green Island and Orchid Island, both of which are very popular among Taiwanese tourists.-History:Taitung... |
臺東市 | |
| 13 | Taoyuan County | 桃園縣 | Táoyuán Xiàn | 2,002,060 | 1,220.9540 | Taoyuan City Taoyuan City Taoyuan City is the county seat of Taoyuan County in Taiwan, located in the northwestern part of the island. Taoyuan city is the gateway of Taiwan: with the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in vicinity, and is a 30-minute ride to the capital, Taipei.... |
桃園市 | |
| 14 | Yilan County | 宜蘭縣 | Yílán Xiàn | 460,486 | 2,143.6251 | Yilan City Yilan City Yilan City historically spelled Ilan or I-lan, is the capital of Yilan County, Taiwan. It is on the north side of Lanyang River. The first Han Chinese settled there in 1802.... |
宜蘭市 | |
| 15 | Yunlin County Yunlin County Yunlin County is a county in the western part of Taiwan, the Republic of China. Yunlin is located to the right of the Taiwan Strait, the east of Nantou County and sharing a border with Changhua County divided by the Zhuoshui River. Yunlin is one of the counties of Taiwan that is part of the Chianan... |
雲林縣 | Yúnlín Xiàn | 717,653 | 1,290.8326 | Douliu City | 斗六市 | |
Note: The cities of Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, New Taipei, Taichung
Taichung
-Demographics:Taichung’s population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city than males.24.32% of residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly....
, Tainan
Tainan
Tainan City is a city in southern Taiwan. It is the fifth largest after New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. It was formerly a provincial city, and in 2010, the provincial city merged with the adjacent Tainan County to form a single special municipality. Tainan faces the Taiwan Strait in...
, and Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
are administered directly by the central government and are not part of Taiwan province. The PRC, which does not administer Taiwan Province, does not recognize Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, New Taipei, Taichung
Taichung
-Demographics:Taichung’s population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city than males.24.32% of residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly....
, Tainan
Tainan
Tainan City is a city in southern Taiwan. It is the fifth largest after New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. It was formerly a provincial city, and in 2010, the provincial city merged with the adjacent Tainan County to form a single special municipality. Tainan faces the Taiwan Strait in...
, and Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
as central municipalities and lists them as provincial municipalities.
The Senkaku Islands
Senkaku Islands
The , also known as the Diaoyu Islands or Diaoyutai Islands or the Pinnacle Islands, are a group of disputed uninhabited islands in the East China Sea...
, which is currently administered by Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
is disputed by both the ROC and PRC which claims them as Tiaoyutai/Diaoyutai Islands. The ROC government claims them as part of Toucheng Township, Yilan County.
Administrative history
Decisions by the Executive YuanExecutive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
since 1945:
- December 25, 1945:
- 8 counties of Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Taitung, and Penghu
- 9 provincial cities: Taipei, Keelung, Hsinchu, Taichung, Changhua, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pintung.
- 2 county-controlled cities: Hualien and Yilan
- August 16, 1950:
- 16 counties: all existing ones
- 8 provincial cities: reduced Chiayi a county-controlled city
- December 1, 1951: 5 provincial cities: reduced Hsinchu, Changhua, and Pintung to county-controlled cities
- July 1, 1967: Taipei became the first Taiwanese municipality
- November 11, 1967: All county seatCounty seatA county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
s (originally towns) upgraded to county-controlled cities. - July 1, 1979: Kaohsiung became the second Taiwanese municipality
- July 1, 1982: 2 new provincial cities: Hsinchu and Chiayi (approved on April 23, 1981)
- December 25, 2010: Taipei County (renamed New Taipei City) was upgraded to municipal status along with the merged Taichung City (encompassing Taichung City and Taichung CountyTaichung CountyTaichung County was a county in central Taiwan, the Republic of China, that surrounded but did not include Taichung City. The name Taichung means "central Taiwan"...
) and the merged Tainan City (encompassing Tainan City and Tainan CountyTainan CountyTainan County was located in southern Taiwan. The name "Tainan" means "Southern Taiwan". Formerly a county of the Republic of China , Tainan County was merged with Tainan City at the end of 2010 to form a single special municipality....
); also Kaohsiung CountyKaohsiung CountyKaohsiung County was a county in southern Taiwan that enclosed but did not include Kaohsiung City. On December 25, 2010, the county merged with Kaohsiung City to form a single special municipality.- Administration :-External links:*...
was merged with the already upgraded Kaohsiung City.
Chief Executive
The position of Chief Executive was temporarily part of the Executive YuanExecutive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
, the position was legalized in Taiwan Province Administrative Official Public Ministry Organization Statute (臺灣省行政長官公署組織條例 Táiwān-shěng xíngzhèng zhǎngguān gōngshǔ zǔzhī tiáolì) of September 20, 1945.
| Governor | Chinese | Tongyong Pinyin Tongyong Pinyin Tongyong Pinyin was the official Romanization of Mandarin Chinese in the Republic of China between 2002 and 2008. The system was unofficially used between 2000 and 2002, when a new romanization system for the Republic of China was being evaluated for adoption. The ROC's Ministry of Education... |
Hanyu Pinyin | Term in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chen Yi Chen Yi (Kuomintang) Chen Yi and later Gongqia , sobriquet Tuisu ; 1883 – June 18, 1950) was the Chief Executive and Garrison Commander of Taiwan after it was surrendered by Japan to the Republic of China, which acted on behalf of the Allied Powers, in 1945... |
陳儀 | Chen Yí | Chen Yí | August 29, 1945 - April 22, 1947 |
Chairman of the Provincial Government
Governors :| Governor | Chinese Chinese character Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese and Japanese , less frequently Korean , formerly Vietnamese , or other languages... |
Tongyong Pinyin Tongyong Pinyin Tongyong Pinyin was the official Romanization of Mandarin Chinese in the Republic of China between 2002 and 2008. The system was unofficially used between 2000 and 2002, when a new romanization system for the Republic of China was being evaluated for adoption. The ROC's Ministry of Education... |
Hanyu Pinyin Pinyin Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into... |
Term in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wey Daw-ming Wey Daw-ming Wei Tao-ming was a distinguished diplomat and public servant. He was prominent as the Republic of China's Ambassador to the United States during the Second World War, foreign minister during the years in which the People's Republic of China sought to oust the ROC from the United Nations, and was... |
魏道明 | Wèi Dàomíng | Wèi Dàomíng | May 16, 1947 - January 5, 1949 |
| Chen Cheng Chen Cheng Chen Cheng , was a Chinese political and military leader, and one of the main National Revolutionary Army commanders during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. After moving to Taiwan at the end of the Civil War, he served as the Governor of Taiwan Province, Vice President and... |
陳誠 | Chén Chéng | Chén Chéng | January 5, 1949 - December 21, 1949 |
| Wu Gwo-jen (Wu Kuo-chen) | 吳國楨 | Wú Guójhen | Wú Guózhēn | December 21, 1949 - April 16, 1953 |
| Yu Horng-jiun | 俞鴻鈞 | Yú Hóngjun | Yú Hóngjūn | April 16, 1953 - June 7, 1954 |
| Yen Chia-kan Yen Chia-kan Yen Chia-kan , or Yen Chia-jin , better known as C. K. Yen, succeeded Chiang Kai-shek as President of the Republic of China upon Chiang's death on April 5, 1975. He served out the remainder of Chiang's term until May 20, 1978.-Biography:C. K... |
嚴家淦 | Yán Jiagàn | Yán Jiāgàn | June 7, 1954 - August 16, 1957 |
| Chow Chih-jou | 周至柔 | Jhou Jhìhróu | Zhōu Zhìróu | August 16, 1957 - December 1, 1962 |
| Huang Chieh Huang Chieh Huang Chieh was a KMT general from Hunan.After Mainland China fell under the control of the Chinese Communist Party in 1949, General Huang Chieh led 30,000 Republic of China Army soldiers to Vietnam and they were stationed at Phu Quoc Island. Later, the army moved to Taiwan in June 1953... |
黃傑 | Huáng Jié | Huáng Jié | December 1, 1962 - July 5, 1969 |
| Chen Ta-ching | 陳大慶 | Chén Dàcìng | Chén Dàqìng | July 5, 1969 - June 6, 1972 |
| Shien Tung-min | 謝東閔 | Siè Dongmǐn | Xiè Dōngmǐn | June 6, 1972 - May 20, 1978 |
| Lin Yang-kang Lin Yang-kang Lin Yang-kang is a politician in the Republic of China .-Biography:Born in Nantou County, Taiwan, Lin graduated from National Taiwan University with a bachelor of science degree... |
林洋港 | Lín Yánggǎng | Lín Yánggǎng | June 12, 1978 - December 5, 1981 |
| Lee Teng-hui Lee Teng-hui Lee Teng-hui is a politician of the Republic of China . He was the 7th, 8th, and 9th-term President of the Republic of China and Chairman of the Kuomintang from 1988 to 2000. He presided over major advancements in democratic reforms including his own re-election which marked the first direct... |
李登輝 | Lǐ Denghuei | Lǐ Dēnghuī | December 5, 1981 - May 20, 1984 |
| Chiu Chuang-huan | 邱創煥 | Ciou Chuànghuàn | Qīu Chuànghuàn | June 9, 1984 - June 16, 1990 |
| Lien Chan Lien Chan Lien Chan is a politician in Taiwan. He was Premier of the Republic of China from 1993 to 1997, Vice President of the Republic of China from 1996 to 2000, and was the Chairman of the Kuomintang from 2000 to 2005... |
連戰 | Lián Jhàn | Lián Zhàn | June 16, 1990 - February 25, 1993 |
| James Soong James Soong James Soong Chu-yu , is a politician in the Republic of China on Taiwan. He founded and chairs the People First Party, a smaller and more conservative party in the Kuomintang -led Pan-Blue Coalition.... |
宋楚瑜 | Sòng Chǔyú | Sòng Chǔyú | March 20, 1993 - December 20, 1994 |
Governor
Governor of the Province. The title "Governor" was first legally used in the Self-Governance Law for Provinces and Counties (省縣自治法) of July 29, 1994.| Governor | Chinese Chinese character Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese and Japanese , less frequently Korean , formerly Vietnamese , or other languages... |
Tongyong Pinyin Tongyong Pinyin Tongyong Pinyin was the official Romanization of Mandarin Chinese in the Republic of China between 2002 and 2008. The system was unofficially used between 2000 and 2002, when a new romanization system for the Republic of China was being evaluated for adoption. The ROC's Ministry of Education... |
Hanyu Pinyin Pinyin Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into... |
Term in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Soong James Soong James Soong Chu-yu , is a politician in the Republic of China on Taiwan. He founded and chairs the People First Party, a smaller and more conservative party in the Kuomintang -led Pan-Blue Coalition.... |
宋楚瑜 | Sòng Chǔyú | Sòng Chǔyú | December 20, 1994 - December 21, 1998 |
Chairman of the Provincial Government
Since the streamlining of the Taiwan Provincial Government in 1998, the government has been headed by a provincial council of nine members, led by the provincial governor. The members of the Provincial Council are all appointed by the president of the Republic of ChinaPresident of the Republic of China
The President of the Republic of China is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the Republic of China . The Republic of China was founded on January 1, 1912, to govern all of China...
. The major operations of the provincial government, such as managing provincial highways and the Bank of Taiwan
Bank of Taiwan
The Bank of Taiwan is a bank headquartered in Taipei, Republic of China . It is administered and owned by the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China.-History:...
, have been transferred to the Executive Yuan.
| Governor | Chinese Chinese character Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese and Japanese , less frequently Korean , formerly Vietnamese , or other languages... |
Tongyong Pinyin Tongyong Pinyin Tongyong Pinyin was the official Romanization of Mandarin Chinese in the Republic of China between 2002 and 2008. The system was unofficially used between 2000 and 2002, when a new romanization system for the Republic of China was being evaluated for adoption. The ROC's Ministry of Education... |
Hanyu Pinyin Pinyin Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into... |
Term in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chao Shou-po | 趙守博 | Jhào Shǒubó | Zhào Shǒubó | December 21, 1998 - May 20, 2000 |
| Chang Po-ya Chang Po-ya Chang Po-ya is the Chairwoman and founder of the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union, a political party in Taiwan.Born in Chiayi City to Hsü Shih-hsien , a politician-doctor, Chang is a medical doctor educated in Kaohsiung Medical College , the Institute of Public Health, National Taiwan University ,... |
張博雅 | Jhang Bóyǎ | Zhāng Bóyǎ | May 20, 2000 - February 1, 2002 |
| Fan Kuang-chun | 范光群 | Fàn Guangcyún | Fàn Guāngqún | February 1, 2002 - October 13, 2003 |
| Lin Kuang-hua | 林光華 | Lín Guanghuá | Lín Guānghuá | October 13, 2003 - January 25, 2006 |
| Lin Si-yao | 林錫耀 | Lín Síyào | Lín Xíyào | December 7, 2007 - May 19, 2008 |
| Tsai Hsun-hsiung | 蔡勳雄 | Cài Syunsyóng | Cài Xūnxióng | May 20, 2008 - September 10, 2009 |
| Chang Jin-Fu | 張進福 | Jhang Jìnfú | Zhāng Jìnfú | September 10, 2009 - February 26, 2010 |
| Lin Jenq-Tzer | 林政則 | Lín Jhèngzé | Lín Zhèngzé | February 26, 2010 - |
PRC's claims
The PRC claims the entirety of the island of TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and its surrounding islets, including the Pescadores
Pescadores
The Penghu Islands, also known as Pescadores are an archipelago off the western coast of Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait consisting of 90 small islands and islets covering an area of 141 square kilometers....
, as parts of its Taiwan Province. The PRC claims that Taiwan is part of China, that the PRC succeeded the ROC as the sole legitimate authority in all of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
upon its founding in 1949, and that therefore Taiwan is part of the PRC.
The claimed official borders and divisions of the Taiwan Province of People's Republic of China mirror those of the ROC Taiwan Province before 1949. The PRC has not acknowledged any changes made post-1949 by the ROC. Thus, the elevation of Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, Taipei County
Taipei County
New Taipei City is the most populous city of Taiwan. The area includes a substantial stretch of Taiwan's northern coastline and surrounds the Taipei Basin...
(now New Taipei City), Taichung
Taichung
-Demographics:Taichung’s population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city than males.24.32% of residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly....
, and Tainan
Tainan
Tainan City is a city in southern Taiwan. It is the fifth largest after New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. It was formerly a provincial city, and in 2010, the provincial city merged with the adjacent Tainan County to form a single special municipality. Tainan faces the Taiwan Strait in...
to be provincial-level cities have not been recognized by the PRC, and all of these cities appear as part of Taiwan Province in publications issued by the PRC. Also, the PRC still regards Taipei as the capital city of Taiwan Province, instead of Jhongsing Village
Jhongsing Village
Zhongxing New Village is located in Nantou City, Nantou County, Taiwan and is the seat of government of Taiwan Province. The term "Zhongxing" means "resurgence of prosperity"....
which is the capital of the ROC Taiwan Province. This is analogous to the previous practice of the ROC in producing maps depicting mainland
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
administrative boundaries the way they were in 1949.
Both the PRC and the ROC claim the Diaoyutai (Senkaku) Islands
Senkaku Islands
The , also known as the Diaoyu Islands or Diaoyutai Islands or the Pinnacle Islands, are a group of disputed uninhabited islands in the East China Sea...
, administered by Japan, as a part of their own respective Taiwan Provinces.
Representation
Thirteen delegates are elected to the National People's CongressNational People's Congress
The National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...
to represent Taiwan Province. These delegates have Hokkien and Holo ancestry whose ancestors were in Taiwan at some point, and are elected by a constituency comprising people with Taiwanese ancestry, not by present residents of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. As the older members retire or die, newer members tend to be born in mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
.
See also
- Fujian Province, Republic of China
- History of the Republic of ChinaHistory of the Republic of ChinaThe History of the Republic of China begins after the Qing Dynasty in 1912, when the formation of the Republic of China put an end to over two thousand years of Imperial rule. The Qing Dynasty, also known as the Manchu Dynasty, ruled from 1644 to 1912...
- Politics of the Republic of ChinaPolitics of the Republic of ChinaThe politics of the Republic of China ,takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is head of state and the premier is head of government, and of a dominant party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative...
- Political status of TaiwanPolitical status of TaiwanThe controversy regarding the political status of Taiwan hinges on whether Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu should remain effectively independent as territory of the Republic of China , become unified with the territories now governed by the People's Republic of China , or formally declare...
- Legal status of TaiwanLegal status of TaiwanThe legal status of Republic of China is a controversial issue which stems from the complex post-Second World War history of Taiwan. Various claims have been made by the People's Republic of China , the Republic of China , and supporters of Taiwan independence over this question, with a variety of...
- Chinese TaipeiChinese TaipeiChinese Taipei is the designated name used by the Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan, to participate in some international organizations and almost all sporting events, such as the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games and Asian Para Games...
- "Taiwan, ChinaTaiwan, China"Taiwan, China" or "Taiwan, Province of China" is a set of politically controversial and potentially ambiguous terms that characterize Taiwan and its associated territories as a province or territory of "China"...
" - Taiwan Province, People's Republic of China
- KuomintangKuomintangThe Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
Further reading
- Bush, R. & O'Hanlon, M. (2007). A War Like No Other: The Truth About China's Challenge to America. Wiley. ISBN 0471986771
- Bush, R. (2006). Untying the Knot: Making Peace in the Taiwan Strait. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 0815712901
- Carpenter, T. (2006). America's Coming War with China: A Collision Course over Taiwan. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1403968411
- Cole, B. (2006). Taiwan's Security: History and Prospects. Routledge. ISBN 0415365813
- Copper, J. (2006). Playing with Fire: The Looming War with China over Taiwan. Praeger Security International General Interest. ISBN 0275988880
- Federation of American Scientists et al. (2006). Chinese Nuclear Forces and U.S. Nuclear War Planning
- Gill, B. (2007). Rising Star: China's New Security Diplomacy. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 0815731469
- Shirk, S. (2007). China: Fragile Superpower: How China's Internal Politics Could Derail Its Peaceful Rise. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195306090
- Tsang, S. (2006). If China Attacks Taiwan: Military Strategy, Politics and Economics. Routledge. ISBN 0415407850
- Tucker, N.B. (2005). Dangerous Strait: the U.S.-Taiwan-China Crisis. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231135645
External links
- Taiwan Provincial Government official site
- Local government structures by the Department of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Interior, ROC