Timeline of Taiwanese history
Encyclopedia
This is a timeline
of the History of Taiwan
including the History of the Republic of China on Taiwan (1945–present).
For the timeline of the History of the Republic of China on mainland China
(1912–1949), see Timeline of Republic of China history
.
Kingdom of Middag
Kingdom of Tungning
Chronology
Chronology is the science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time, such as the use of a timeline or sequence of events. It is also "the determination of the actual temporal sequence of past events".Chronology is part of periodization...
of the History of Taiwan
History of Taiwan
Taiwan was first populated by Negrito, and then Austronesian people. It was colonized by the Dutch in the 17th century, followed by an influx of Han Chinese including Hakka immigrants from areas of Fujian and Guangdong of mainland China, across the Taiwan Strait...
including the History of the Republic of China on Taiwan (1945–present).
For the timeline of the History of the Republic of China on mainland China
History of the Republic of China
The 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...
(1912–1949), see Timeline of Republic of China history
Timeline of Republic of China history
This is a timeline of the History of the Republic of China on mainland China .For the timeline of the History of the Republic of China on Taiwan , see Timeline of Taiwanese history.-1911-1920:*1911: Wuchang Uprising....
.
Pre-Historic Times
- Sometime between 13,000 and 3,000 B.C.: Earliest inhabitants for which archeological evidence has been found. Changbin Culture (長濱文化).
Kingdom of MiddagKingdom of MiddagThe Kingdom of Middag was a kingdom or supra-tribal alliance located in the central western plains of Taiwan. Such a historical regime was established by the Taiwanese aboriginal tribes of Papora, Babuza, Pazeh, and Hoanya; it had ruled as many as 27 villages , occupying parts of present-day...
(1540s–1732)
- 1540s: Kingdom of MiddagKingdom of MiddagThe Kingdom of Middag was a kingdom or supra-tribal alliance located in the central western plains of Taiwan. Such a historical regime was established by the Taiwanese aboriginal tribes of Papora, Babuza, Pazeh, and Hoanya; it had ruled as many as 27 villages , occupying parts of present-day...
established. - 1544: Portuguese sailors passing Taiwan record in the ship's log the name Ilha Formosa (Beautiful Island).
- 1582: Portuguese shipwreck survivors battle malariaMalariaMalaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and aborigines for ten weeks before returning to MacauMacauMacau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
on a raft. - 1592: Japan unsuccessfully seeks sovereignty over Taiwan (Takayamakoku 高山国 in Japanese, lit. high mountain country).
17th Century
- 1604: Dutch envoy Wijbrand van Waerwijck and his army are ordered to occupy the PescadoresPescadoresThe 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....
in order to open trade with China. However Ming DynastyMing DynastyThe Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
general Shen You-rong demanded their withdrawal. - 1609: Tokugawa ShogunateTokugawa shogunateThe Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
of Japan sends feudal lord Arima HarunobuArima Harunobuwas the second son and successor of Japanese daimyo Arima Yoshisada. Harunobu was born in the castle of Arima and controlled the Shimabara area of Hizen province. After Harunobu's father's death, he began the persecution of Christians in his region. With Ryūzōji Takanobu expanding into his domain,...
(有馬晴信) on an exploratory mission to Taiwan. - 1616: Nagasaki official Murayama TōanMurayama ToanMurayama Tōan Antonio was a 17th-century Japanese Governor of the city of Nagasaki . He was born in Nagoya from a humble background, and he was a Christian...
(村山等安) leads troops on an unsuccessful invasion of Taiwan. - 1622: Dutch envoy Cornelis Reijerszoon occupies the PescadoresPescadoresThe 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....
in an attempt to persuade China to open trade. The Ming court rejects his proposal.
Dutch Empire rule (August 26, 1624 – February 1, 1662)
- 1624: Ming China opens trade with the Dutch. The Dutch establish a trading base for commerce with Japan and coastal China. Dutch official Maarten Sonk takes up his new post at Tayuan (present-day Anping District, Tainan City) beginning the Dutch administration of Taiwan.
- 1624: Dutch begin construction of Fort ZeelandiaFort Zeelandia (Taiwan)Fort Zeelandia was a fortress built over ten years from 1624–1634 by the Dutch Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, in the town of Anping on the island of Formosa, present day Taiwan, during their 38-year rule over the western part of it...
which is completed ten years later. - 1626: Spain sends an expedition to Santissima TrinidadSantissima Trinidad (Taiwan)Santissima Trinidad was a location on the northeast coast of Taiwan at Keelung, where in 1626 the Spanish established a settlement and built Fort San Salvador, which they occupied until 1642 when they were driven out by the Dutch...
(KeelungKeelungKeelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
) and build Fort San Salvador due to the Dutch threat to Chinese and Japanese trade to the Spanish Philippines. - 1628: Spanish establish a settlement at Tamsui and build Fort Santo DomingoFort Santo DomingoFuerte Santo Domingo or Fort San Domingo was originally a wooden fort built by the Spanish in 1629 at Tamsui on the northwestern coast of Taiwan.-History:...
in an attempt to attract Chinese merchants. - 1642: With the Dutch in southern Taiwan and the Spanish in northern Taiwan, confrontation between the two adversaries were inevitable and eventually the Dutch drive the Spanish out of Taiwan, becoming the sole ruling power on Taiwan.
- 1653: Taiwan becomes the second most profitable trading port in Asia, due to its ideal central location between Japan, China and southeast Asia.
Kingdom of TungningKingdom of TungningThe Kingdom of Tungning was a government that ruled Taiwan between 1661 and 1683. A pro-Ming Dynasty state, it was founded by Koxinga after the Ming government in mainland China was replaced by the Manchu-ruled Qing Dynasty...
(1662–1683)
- 1662: KoxingaKoxingaKoxinga 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...
lays siege to Fort Zeelandia with the Dutch surrendering nine months later.
Qing Dynasty ruleTaiwan under Qing Dynasty ruleThe Qing Dynasty ruled Taiwan from 1683 to 1895. The Qing court sent an army led by general Shi Lang and annexed Taiwan in 1683.-History:Qing Emperor Kangxi annexed Taiwan because he wanted to remove the remaining resistance forces against the Qing Dynasty...
(1683 – May 25, 1895)
- 1683: The remnant forces of the Ming dynasty are defeated by the Qing dynasty, which has assumed full control over mainland ChinaMainland ChinaMainland 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...
.
18th Century
- 1732: Qing forces under the administration of Yongzheng EmperorYongzheng EmperorThe Yongzheng Emperor , born Yinzhen , was the fifth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and the third Qing emperor from 1722 to 1735. A hard-working ruler, Yongzheng's main goal was to create an effective government at minimal expense. Like his father, the Kangxi Emperor, Yongzheng used military...
conquer Kingdom of MiddagKingdom of MiddagThe Kingdom of Middag was a kingdom or supra-tribal alliance located in the central western plains of Taiwan. Such a historical regime was established by the Taiwanese aboriginal tribes of Papora, Babuza, Pazeh, and Hoanya; it had ruled as many as 27 villages , occupying parts of present-day...
.
19th century
- 1867: American military expedition sent to Kenting in response to the Rover incident.
- 1874: Japan sends an expedition force of 3,600 soldiers to Taiwan to test the situation for colonizing the island.
- 1875: Taiwan is divided into two prefectures, north and south.
- 1887: Taiwan is reorganized administratively as a Taiwan ProvinceTaiwan ProvinceTaiwan Province is one of the two administrative divisions referred to as provinces and is controlled by the Republic of China . The province covers approximately 73% of the territory controlled by the Republic of China...
with Liu MingchuanLiu MingchuanLiu Mingchuan was a Chinese official during the Qing dynasty. He adopted a style name of Xingsan . Liu became involved in the suppression of the Taiping rebellion at an early age, and worked closely with Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang as he emerged as an important Huai Army officer...
as the first governor. - 1884: Keelung and Tamsui harbor are blockaded by the French NavyFrench NavyThe French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
during the Sino-French WarSino-French WarThe Sino–French War was a limited conflict fought between August 1884 and April 1885 to decide whether France should replace China in control of Tonkin . As the French achieved their war aims, they are usually considered to have won the war...
. - 1895: Qing China signs the Treaty of ShimonosekiTreaty of ShimonosekiThe Treaty of Shimonoseki , known as the Treaty of Maguan in China, was signed at the Shunpanrō hall on April 17, 1895, between the Empire of Japan and Qing Empire of China, ending the First Sino-Japanese War. The peace conference took place from March 20 to April 17, 1895...
ceding Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands to Japan after being defeated by the Japanese Navy in the First Sino-Japanese WarFirst Sino-Japanese WarThe First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
.
Republic of FormosaRepublic of FormosaThe Republic of Formosa was a short-lived republic that existed on the island of Taiwan in 1895 between the formal cession of Taiwan by the Qing Dynasty of China to the Empire of Japan by the Treaty of Shimonoseki and its invasion and occupation by Japanese troops...
(May 25, 1895 – October 21, 1895)
- 1895: Pro-Qing officials declare the Republic of FormosaRepublic of FormosaThe Republic of Formosa was a short-lived republic that existed on the island of Taiwan in 1895 between the formal cession of Taiwan by the Qing Dynasty of China to the Empire of Japan by the Treaty of Shimonoseki and its invasion and occupation by Japanese troops...
in an attempt to resist the arrival of the Japanese. Tang Ching-sungTang Ching-sungTang Ching-sung was a Chinese general and statesman. He commanded the Yunnan Army in the Sino-French War , and made an important contribution to China's military effort in Tonkin by persuading the Black Flag leader Liu Yung-fu to serve under Chinese command...
(唐景崧) named president.
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Empire of Japan ruleTaiwan under Japanese ruleBetween 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
(June 2, 1895 – October 25, 1945)
- 1899: The Japanese Imperial government suppressed any opposition to its rule and eliminated all anti-Japanese groups on the island.
- 1899: Bank of TaiwanBank of TaiwanThe 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:...
established to encourage Japanese investment into Taiwan. - 1899: Taiwan yenTaiwan yenThe yen was the currency of Taiwan, between 1895 and 1946. It was on a par with and circulated alongside the Japanese yen. The yen was subdivided into 100 sen .-History:...
is issued by the Bank of Taiwan with an exchange ratio on par with the Japanese yenJapanese yenThe is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
.
Twentieth century
- 1901: Railroad between KeelungKeelungKeelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
and HsinchuHsinchuHsinchu City is a city in northern Taiwan. Hsinchu is popularly nicknamed "The Windy City" for its windy climate.Hsinchu City is administered as a special municipality within Taiwan . The city is bordered by Hsinchu County to the north and east, Miaoli County to the south, and the Taiwan Strait...
rebuilt. - 1904: Taiwan bank notes issued.
- 1905: Earthquake in ChiayiChiayi-Administration:-City attractions:*Chiayi Park*Sun Shooting Tower *Lantan *Historic Archives Building of Chiayi City*University of Chiayi*Chiayi Museum...
. - 1905: First population census. (First Provisional Taiwan Household Registration Survey)
- 1905: Taiwan becomes financially self-sufficient and is weaned off subsidies from Japan's central government.
- 1907: Beipu Incident led by Cai Ching-lin (蔡清琳).
- 1908: North-South (Western Line) Railway completed.
1911–1918
- 1913: Miaoli Incident.
- 1915: Tapani Incident, largest revolt in Taiwanese history; over 100 protesters killed by Japanese authorities.
- 1915: Silai Temple Incident led by Yu Ching-fang (余清芳).
Dōka: "Integration" (1919–1935)
- 1921: Taiwanese Cultural AssociationTaiwanese Cultural AssociationThe Taiwanese Cultural Association , founded 1921-10-17, was an important organization during the Japanese rule of Taiwan. Founded by Chiang Wei-shui in Dadaocheng, Taipei....
founded. - 1921: "Petition to Establish a Taiwan Parliament" movement begins.
- 1923: Crown Prince HirohitoHirohito, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to...
(Later Emperor) of Japan visits Taiwan. - 1924: Yilan Line Railroad completed.
- 1926: Hwatung Line Railroad completed.
- 1927: Taiwanese People's PartyTaiwanese People's PartyThe Taiwanese People's Party , founded 1927, was nominally Taiwan's first political party, preceding the founding of the Taiwanese Communist Party by nine months...
, Taiwan's first political party, founded. - 1928: Taihoku Imperial UniversityNational Taiwan UniversityNational Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
(now National Taiwan University) founded. - 1930: Jianan (or Chianan) Canal (嘉南大圳) completed.
- 1930: Wushe IncidentWushe IncidentThe Wushe Incident or Wushe Event or Wushe Revolution / Rebellion / Uprising / Insurrection of 1930 was the last major uprising against colonial Japanese forces in Taiwan...
; Japan forcefully crushes rebellion by the Atayal aborigine group. - 1935: Earthquake in MiaoliMiaoliMiaoli may refer to:*Miaoli County , a county located in central Taiwan, Republic of China*Miaoli City , the seat of Miaoli County*Miaoli, Zhengzhou , town in Jinshui District, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China...
. - 1935: Exposition to Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Beginning of Administration in Taiwan.
Kōminka: "Subjects of the Emperor" (1936–1945)
- 1937: Four national parks planned.
- 1937: Sun Moon LakeSun Moon LakeSun Moon Lake is the largest body of water in Taiwan as well as a tourist attraction. Situated in Yuchi, Nantou, the area around the Sun Moon Lake is home to the Thao tribe, one of aboriginal tribes in Taiwan. Sun Moon Lake surrounds a tiny island called Lalu...
Hydroelectric Power Plant completed. - 1939: Industrial production surpasses agricultural production.
- 1941: Taiwan Revolutionary League formed to coordinate anti-Japan resistance.
- 1941: Segregation of primary schools between Japanese and Taiwanese children ends.
- 1941: Pingtung Line Railroad completed
- 1943: Compulsory primary education begins. Enrollment rates reached 71.3% for Taiwanese children (including 86.4% for aborigine children) and 99.6% for Japanese children in Taiwan making Taiwan's enrollment rate the second highest in Asia after Japan.
- 1945: Popular Legislature Election Law enacted.
- 1945: Japan (then including Taiwan) is defeated in World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Japanese Instrument of SurrenderJapanese Instrument of SurrenderThe Japanese Instrument of Surrender was the written agreement that enabled the Surrender of Japan, marking the end of World War II. It was signed by representatives from the Empire of Japan, the United States of America, the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist...
is signed. United States directs Japanese forces to surrenderSurrender of JapanThe surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
to the ROC as per General Order No. 1. Chen YiChen 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...
of the 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...
is appointed as Chief Executive of Taiwan as the Republic of ChinaRepublic of ChinaThe 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...
proclaims Retrocession DayRetrocession DayRetrocession Day is an annual observance in the Republic of China to commemorate the end of 50 years of Japanese colonial rule of Taiwan on October 25, 1945.-Background:...
.
Republic of China rule (October 25, 1945–1949)
- 1947: 228 Incident228 IncidentThe 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...
; "White TerrorWhite TerrorWhite Terror is the violence carried out by reactionary groups as part of a counter-revolution. In particular, during the 20th century, in several countries the term White Terror was applied to acts of violence against real or suspected socialists and communists.-Historical origin: the French...
" begins. - 1947: US consulate in Taipei proposed "status of Taiwan is undetermined" and "Taiwan Under UN trustee" program in March; proposal was rejected by the United States State Department.
- 1947: Chen YiChen 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...
recalled and Taiwan Provincial Government established. - 1948: National Assembly of the Republic of ChinaNational Assembly of the Republic of ChinaThe National Assembly of the Republic of China refers to several parliamentary bodies that existed in the Republic of China. The National Assembly was originally founded in 1913 as the first legislature in Chinese history, but was disbanded less than a year later as President Yuan Shikai assumed...
passes Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of Communist RebellionTemporary Provisions Effective During the Period of Communist RebellionThe Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of Communist Rebellion was a series of temporary constitutional provisions passed by the National Assembly of the Republic of China on May 10, 1948， that provided to the then President Chiang Kai-shek extended powers amid the height of the...
. - 1948: Universal Declaration of Human RightsUniversal Declaration of Human RightsThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
adopted by the United Nations General AssemblyUnited Nations General AssemblyFor two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
. P. C. ChangP. C. ChangPeng Chun Chang also P. C. Chang was a Chinese professor, philosopher and playwright.-Biography:Born in China, he received his higher education in the United States, at Columbia University. He returned to China and became a professor at Nankai University in Tianjin...
is among its authors. - 1949: April 6 Incident.
- 1949: The New Taiwan dollarNew Taiwan dollarThe New Taiwan dollar , or simply Taiwan dollar, is the official currency of the Taiwan Area of the Republic of China since 1949, when it replaced the Old Taiwan dollar...
is issued, exchanged at 1:40,000 old Taiwan dollars. - 1949: 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...
army defeated in the Chinese Civil WarChinese Civil WarThe 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...
, flees in exile to Taiwan with 2 million refugees.
Republic of China on Taiwan (1949–present)
- 1949: The capital of the Republic of ChinaRepublic of ChinaThe 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) relocated from NanjingNanjing' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
to TaipeiTaipeiTaipei 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...
. - 1949–1987: Martial lawMartial lawMartial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
and the White Terror period.
1951–1960
- 1951: Treaty of San FranciscoTreaty of San FranciscoThe Treaty of Peace with Japan , between Japan and part of the Allied Powers, was officially signed by 48 nations on September 8, 1951, at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, California...
officially signed by 49 nations; Japan officially renounced claims to Taiwan, but without designating a recipient. - 1952: Treaty of San FranciscoTreaty of San FranciscoThe Treaty of Peace with Japan , between Japan and part of the Allied Powers, was officially signed by 48 nations on September 8, 1951, at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, California...
comes into force. Japan renounces all right, title, and claim to Taiwan, but no "receiving country" is designated in the Treaty of San Francisco. However, Japan and the Republic of China then sign Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty (Treaty of Taipei). - 1958: 823 Artillery WarSecond Taiwan Strait CrisisThe Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, also called the 1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis, was a conflict that took place between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China governments in which the PRC shelled the islands of Matsu and Quemoy in the Taiwan Strait in an attempt to seize them from...
. - 1959: August 7 Flood: serious flooding in central Taiwan.
- 1960: Free China Incident.
1961–1970
- 1964: Shihmen Reservoir completed.
- 1964: Peng Ming-minPeng Ming-minPeng Ming-min is a noted Taiwan independence activist and politician. Arrested for sedition in 1964 for printing a manifesto advocating Taiwanese independence, he dramatically escaped from Taiwan to the United States and after 22 years in exile, returned to became the Democratic Progressive...
arrested for the draft of A Declaration of Formosan Self-salvation. - 1966: Chinese Cultural RenaissanceChinese Cultural RenaissanceThe Chinese Cultural Renaissance or the Chinese Cultural Renaissance Movement was a movement promoted in Taiwan to undo the cultural destructions caused by the Communist Party of China during the Cultural revolution.-Movement:...
1971–1980
- 1971: The seat for "China" at the United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security CouncilThe United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
is assumed by the People's Republic of China, in place of the ROCRepublic of ChinaThe 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...
. - 1971: United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758
- 1972: The United States establishes diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, and acknowledges the One China Policy in the Shanghai CommuniqueShanghai CommuniquéThe Joint Communiqué of the United States of America and the People's Republic of China, also known as the Shanghai Communiqué , was an important diplomatic document issued by the United States of America and the People's Republic of China on February 27, 1972 during President Richard Nixon's visit...
. - 1975: President Chiang Kai-ShekChiang Kai-shekChiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
dies. Yen Chia-kanYen Chia-kanYen 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...
assumes the presidency until May 20, 1978. - 1978: Chiang Ching-kuoChiang Ching-kuoChiang Ching-kuo , Kuomintang politician and leader, was the son of President Chiang Kai-shek and held numerous posts in the government of the Republic of China...
elected President. - 1979: The United States passes the Taiwan Relations ActTaiwan Relations ActThe Taiwan Relations Act is an act of the United States Congress passed in 1979 after the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and the breaking of relations between the United States and the Republic of China on the island of Taiwan by President Jimmy Carter...
, which affirms US commitment to defend Taiwan militarily and to treat Taiwan as a state for most purposes of U.S. law. - 1979: Kaohsiung IncidentKaohsiung IncidentThe Kaohsiung Incident also known as the Formosa Incident, the Meilidao Incident or the Formosa Magazine incident was the result of pro-democracy demonstrations that occurred in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on December 10, 1979....
. - 1979: Western Line Railroad fully electrified; North-Link Line completed.
- 1980: Lin Family Murders on the anniversary of the 228 Incident228 IncidentThe 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...
. - 1980: Hsinchu Science ParkHsinchu Science ParkHsinchu Science and Industrial Park is an industrial park established by the government of the Republic of China on December 15, 1980 with investment from the Kuomintang. It straddles Hsinchu City and Hsinchu County on the island of Taiwan....
founded.
1981–1990
- 1981: Chen Wun-cheng (陳文成) Incident.
- 1984: Labor Standards Law enacted.
- 1986: Typhoon Wayne makes landfall in the west coast of central Taiwan.
- 1986: Democratic Progressive PartyDemocratic Progressive PartyThe 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), the first oppositional political party after World War II, formed illegally from the Tangwai movementTangwaiThe Tangwai movement was a political movement in the Republic of China in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. Although the Kuomintang had allowed contested elections for a small number of seats in Legislative Yuan, opposition parties were still forbidden...
. - 1986: Yuan T. LeeYuan T. LeeYuan Tseh Lee, Ph.D. is a chemist. He was the first Taiwanese Nobel Prize laureate, who, along with the Hungarian-Canadian John C. Polanyi and American Dudley R. Herschbach won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1986 "for their contributions to the dynamics of chemical elementary processes"...
wins the Nobel PrizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
in chemistry.
Democratization
- 1987: Martial lawMartial lawMartial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
lifted. - 1988: President Chiang Ching-kuoChiang Ching-kuoChiang Ching-kuo , Kuomintang politician and leader, was the son of President Chiang Kai-shek and held numerous posts in the government of the Republic of China...
dies; Lee Teng-huiLee Teng-huiLee 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...
assumes the presidency. - 1988: Bans on publishing newspapers lifted.
- 1989: Bans on establishing new commercial banks lifted.
- 1989: Cheng Nan-jungCheng Nan-jungCheng Nan-jung was a Taiwanese publisher and pro-democracy activist. He was the founder of the Freedom Era Weekly. He is most known internationally for setting himself on fire in support of Taiwanese independence.-Background and career:...
Self-immolationSelf-immolationSelf-immolation refers to setting oneself on fire, often as a form of protest or for the purposes of martyrdom or suicide. It has centuries-long traditions in some cultures, while in modern times it has become a type of radical political protest...
. - 1990: Wild Lily student movementWild Lily student movementTaiwan's Wild Lily student movement or March student movement was a six-day student demonstration in 1990 for democratic reform. The sit-in at Memorial Square in Taipei, initiated by a few students from National Taiwan University, soon drew the participation of over 300,000 demonstrators...
in Chiang Kai-shek Memorial HallChiang Kai-shek Memorial HallThe National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a famous monument, landmark and tourist attractions erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. It is located in Taipei, Republic of China ....
.
1991–2000
- 1991: Legislative YuanLegislative YuanThe 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...
and National AssemblyNational Assembly of the Republic of ChinaThe National Assembly of the Republic of China refers to several parliamentary bodies that existed in the Republic of China. The National Assembly was originally founded in 1913 as the first legislature in Chinese history, but was disbanded less than a year later as President Yuan Shikai assumed...
elected in 1947 were forced to resign. - 1991: Opposition parties legalized.
- 1991: South-Link LineSouth-Link LineThe South-Link Line is a line of the Taiwan Railway Administration running along the south end of the island of Taiwan, connecting the eastern and western coasts. It is 98.2 km long, of which 81.4 km is single track...
Railroad completed. - 1992: Fair Trade Law enacted.
- 1992: The first democratic election of the Legislative YuanLegislative YuanThe 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...
. - 1992: 1992 Consensus1992 ConsensusThe 1992 Consensus or Consensus of 1992 is a term describing the outcome of a meeting in 1992 between the semi-official representatives of the People's Republic of China in mainland China and the Republic of China in Taiwan...
- 1994: National Health Insurance begins.
- 1995: US government reverses policy and allows President Lee Teng-huiLee Teng-huiLee 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...
to visit the US. The People's Republic of China responds with the Third Taiwan Strait CrisisThird Taiwan Strait CrisisThe Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, also called the 1995–1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis or the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, was the effect of a series of missile tests conducted by the People's Republic of China in the waters surrounding Taiwan including the Taiwan Strait from July 21, 1995 to March 23, 1996...
by launching a series of missiles into the waters off Taiwan. The Taiwan stock marketTaiwan Stock ExchangeThe Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation is a financial institution, located in Taipei 101, in Taipei, Taiwan. The TSEC was established in 1961 and began operating as a stock exchange on 9 February 1962...
loses one-third of its value. - 1996: President Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
dispatches the USS Nimitz supercarrierSupercarrierSupercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial...
to patrol the Taiwan StraitTaiwan StraitThe Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait, formerly known as the Black Ditch, is a 180-km-wide strait separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the northeast...
. - 1995: 228 Incident228 IncidentThe 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...
monument erected; President Lee Teng-huiLee Teng-huiLee 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...
publicly apologizes on behalf of the KMT. - 1996: The first direct presidential election; Lee Teng-huiLee Teng-huiLee 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...
elected. - 1996: Muzha LineMuzha Line (TRTS)The Taipei Metro Wenshan Line is an elevated, medium-capacity line in Taipei, Taiwan. It was the first line on the Taipei Metro, consisting of 12 stations over 10.9 km...
of the Taipei Metro completed. - 1997: Tamsui Line of the Taipei Metro completed.
- 1997: Private cellular phone companies begin services.
- 1999: Resolution on Taiwan's FutureResolution on Taiwan's FutureThe Resolution on Taiwan's Future is a document ratified by the Democratic Progressive Party during its eighth annual national assembly on May 7-8, 1999 in the southern port-city of Kaohsiung...
- 1999: Chi-Chi earthquake.
- 2000: Chen Shui-bianChen Shui-bianChen Shui-bian is a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008. Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang rule in Taiwan...
, the opposition candidate from the DPPDemocratic Progressive PartyThe 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,...
, elected president by a lead of 2.5% of votes marking the end of the KMTKuomintangThe 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...
status as the ruling party. Voter turnout was 82.69%; first peaceful transfer of power. - 2000: Four Noes and One WithoutFour Noes and One WithoutThe Four Noes and One Without , also known as the Four Noes was a pledge by former President of the Republic of China Chen Shui-bian made in his inauguration speech on 20 May 2000 concerning the political status of Taiwan...
- 2000: Yilan Line railroad electrified.
2001–present
- 2001: Three mini-links between KinmenKinmenKinmen , 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...
, MatsuMatsu IslandsThe Matsu Islands are a minor archipelago of 19 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait administered as Lienchiang County , Fujian Province of the Republic of China . Only a small area of what is historically Lienchiang County is under the control of the ROC...
and the mainland of FujianFujian' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
begins. - 2001: Private fixed-line telephone companies begin services.
- 2001: Serious flooding caused by Typhoon Nari.
- 2002: Entry into the World Trade OrganizationWorld Trade OrganizationThe World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...
. - 2002: Penetration rate of cellular phones exceeds 100%.
- 2003: SARS outbreaks.
- 2003: North-Link LineNorth-Link LineThe North-Link Line is the central section of the Eastern Line of the Taiwan Railway Administration. It has a total length of 86.6 km, including the 7.4 km segment between Beipu and Hualien Port. -History:...
railroad electrified. - 2004: Second north-south freewayNational Highway No. 3 (Taiwan)National Highway No. 3 is the second North-South freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at Jijin Interchange on the Provincial Highway No. 2 and ends in Linbian, Pingtung on the Provincial Highway No. 17....
completed. - 2004: 228 Hand-in-Hand Rally228 Hand-in-Hand RallyThe 228 Hand-in-Hand Rally was a demonstration in the form of a human chain held in Taiwan on Peace Memorial Day , 2004. Over 1 million Taiwanese formed a long human chain, from the harbor at Keelung, Taiwan's northernmost city, to its southern tip at Eluanbi, Pingtung County to commemorate the...
. - 2004: PresidentPresident of the Republic of ChinaThe 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...
Chen Shui-bianChen Shui-bianChen Shui-bian is a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008. Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang rule in Taiwan...
is re-electedROC presidential election, 2004The Election for the 11th-term President and Vice-President of the Republic of China , the third direct presidential election in Taiwan's history and the 11th presidential election overall under the 1947 Chinese Constitution, was held on March 20, 2004...
by a margin of 0.22% votes after being shot the day before3-19 shooting incidentThe 3-19 shooting incident was an assassination attempt on President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu while they were campaigning in Tainan on March 19, 2004, the day before Taiwan's presidential election...
. - 2004: Taipei 101Taipei 101Taipei 101 , formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building ranked officially as the world's tallest from 2004 until the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010...
becomes World's Tallest Building. - 2005: The first direct commercial airplane flights from Beijing to Taipei for the Chinese New YearChinese New YearChinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
. - 2005: The PRC passes an "anti-secession lawAnti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of ChinaThe Anti-Secession Law is a law of the People's Republic of China. It was passed by the third conference of the 10th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China . It was ratified on March 14, 2005, and went into effect immediately. Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of...
" authorizing the use of force against Taiwan and the ROC government should it formally declare independence. In response, 1.6 million people marched in Taipei against China's "anti-secession law". Similar marches occur across the world by Taiwanese nationalists. Protests against the PRC were held worldwide, including, but not limited to: Chicago, New York City, Washington DC, Paris, and Sydney. - 2005: Pan Blue visit to mainland China2005 Pan-Blue visits to mainland ChinaThe 2005 Pan-Blue visits to mainland China were a series of groundbreaking visits by delegations of the Kuomintang to mainland China. They were hailed as the highest level of exchange between the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang since Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong met in Chongqing,...
- 2005: President Chen is invited and attends the funeral of Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IIBlessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He is the first Taiwanese president to visit the VaticanVatican CityVatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
. - 2005: The National Assembly of the Republic of ChinaNational Assembly of the Republic of ChinaThe National Assembly of the Republic of China refers to several parliamentary bodies that existed in the Republic of China. The National Assembly was originally founded in 1913 as the first legislature in Chinese history, but was disbanded less than a year later as President Yuan Shikai assumed...
convenes for the last time to implement several constitutional reforms, including single-member two-vote districts, and votes to transfer the power of constitutional reform to the popular ballot, essentially abolishing itself. - 2006: Taiwan's first high speed rail line, Taiwan High Speed RailTaiwan High Speed RailTaiwan High Speed Rail is a high-speed rail line that runs approximately along the west coast of the Republic of China from the national capital of Taipei to the southern city of Kaohsiung...
, begins operation. - 2006: Rename "Chiang Kai-shek International Airport" to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
- 2007: Rename Chiang Kai-shek Memorial HallRenaming of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial HallThe renaming of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan to National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall was announced by President Chen Shui-bian on May 15, 2007. The surrounding plaza was rededicated to democracy as Liberty Square...
to National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall. - 2007: Taiwan applies for membership in the United Nations under the name "Taiwan", and is rejected by the General Assembly.
- 2008: March 9 Red Line of the Kaohsiung MRTKaohsiung Mass Rapid TransitThe Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit System is a rapid transit system covering metropolitan Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Construction of the KMRT started in October 2001. The Red Line and the Orange Line opened on March 9 and September 14, 2008, respectively...
completed. - 2008: March 22 presidential election; with 58.48% of the vote, KMT candidate Ma defeats DPP candidate Hsieh. Many voters boycott the referenda on whether and how to join UN so the level of voter participation required for referenda to be considered valid is not achieved.
- 2008: July – the first direct China-Taiwan flightsCross-strait charterThe cross-strait charters are special flights between Taiwan and mainland China, across the Taiwan Strait. After the Chinese Civil War, no direct flights were allowed between Taiwan and mainland China due to mistrust and security concerns; this remained the case until 2003...
begin in nearly 6 decades. - 2008: May - Mayor Ma Ying-jeouMa Ying-jeouMa Ying-jeou is the 12th term and current President of the Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan, and the Chairman of the Kuomintang Party, also known as the Chinese Nationalist Party. He formerly served as Justice Minister from 1993 to 1996, Mayor of Taipei from 1998 to 2006, and Chairman...
sworn into office as the 12th term and current President of TaiwanPresident of the Republic of ChinaThe 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...
(ROC) and the Chairman of the Kuomintang PartyKuomintangThe 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...
. - 2008: 1025 demonstration
- 2008: Chen Yunlin visitChen YunlinChen Yunlin is the current chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits , the body responsible for negotiations with Taiwan in the People's Republic of China.-Biography:...
- 2008: Wild Strawberry student movementWild Strawberry student movementThe Wild Strawberry student movement is a protest movement in Taiwan begun on November 6, 2008 after the visit of China's ARATS chairman Chen Yunlin to the island. Police actions on protests aimed at Chen suppressed the display of Taiwan's national flag and the playing of Taiwanese songs...
- 2008: Lien Chen meets Hu JintaoHu JintaoHu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...
at APEC Peru 2008APEC Peru 2008The APEC Peru 2008 summit was the twentieth annual gather of APEC leaders. The meet was primarily a series of political-economic meetings, which were held in Peru between the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation , although business leaders of the region also met before the summit... - 2009: World Games 2009World Games 2009The World Games of 2009 took place in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from July 16, 2009 to July 26, 2009. The games featured sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games....
- 2009: Typhoon MorakotTyphoon Morakot (2009)Typhoon Morakot was the deadliest typhoon to impact Taiwan in recorded history. It formed early on August 2, 2009 as an unnamed tropical depression...
See also
- Timeline of Republic of China historyTimeline of Republic of China historyThis is a timeline of the History of the Republic of China on mainland China .For the timeline of the History of the Republic of China on Taiwan , see Timeline of Taiwanese history.-1911-1920:*1911: Wuchang Uprising....
(1912–1949)