Tainan Confucius Temple in the
southern Taiwan city dates back
to 1665. (Pang Chia-shan)
FACT FOCUS
- Dutch and Spanish settlers established
bases in Taiwan in the early 17th century.
- Around 1.2 million people relocated from
China to Taiwan along with the Republic
of China (Taiwan) government in the late
1940s and early 1950s.
The ROC was founded in 1912 in China. At that
time, Taiwan was under Japanese colonial rule
as a result of the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki, by
which the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan. The ROC
government began exercising jurisdiction over
Taiwan in 1945 after Japan surrendered at the end
of World War II.
The ROC government relocated to Taiwan in 1949
while fighting a civil war with the Chinese Communist
Party. Since then, the ROC has continued to exercise
effective jurisdiction over the main island of Taiwan and
a number of outlying islands, leaving Taiwan and China
each under the rule of a different government. The
authorities in Beijing have never exercised sovereignty
over Taiwan or other islands administered by the ROC.
Historical Timeline
The following timeline focuses on Taiwan’s recorded history
dating from about 400 years ago, although it has been
home to Malayo-Polynesian peoples for many millenniums.
1500s
It is commonly believed that European sailors
passing Taiwan record the island’s name as Ilha
Formosa, or beautiful island.
Taiwan continues to experience visits by small
numbers of Chinese merchants, fishermen and pirates.
1624
The Dutch East India Company establishes
a base in southwestern Taiwan, initiating a
transformation in aboriginal grain production
practices and employing Chinese laborers to
work on its rice and sugar plantations.
1626
Spanish adventurers establish bases in northern
Taiwan but are ousted by the Dutch in 1642.
1662
Fleeing the Manchurian conquest of the Ming
dynasty (1368-1644), Ming loyalists under Zheng
Cheng-gong, or Koxinga, drive out the Dutch from
Taiwan and establish authority over the island.
1683
Qing dynasty (1644-1912) forces take control of
Taiwan’s western and northern coastal areas.
1885
Taiwan is declared a province of the Qing
Empire.
1895
Following defeat in the First Sino-Japanese
War (1894-1895), the Qing government signs
the Treaty of Shimonoseki, by which it cedes
sovereignty over Taiwan to Japan, which rules the
island until 1945.
1911~1912
Chinese revolutionaries overthrow the Qing
Empire and establish the ROC.
1943
During World War II, ROC leader Chiang Kai-shek
meets with U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt
and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in
Cairo. After the conclusion of the conference,
the Cairo Declaration is released, stating that
“…Formosa [Taiwan], and the Pescadores [the
Penghu Islands], shall be restored to the Republic
of China…”
1945
The ROC, U.K. and U.S. jointly issue the
Potsdam Declaration, calling for Japan’s
unconditional surrender and the carrying-out
of the Cairo Declaration.
After World War II, ROC government
representatives accept the surrender
of Japanese forces in Taiwan. The Chief
Executive of Taiwan Province Chen Yi sends a
memorandum to the Japanese governor-general of Taiwan, stating that “As
the Chief Executive of Taiwan Province of the
ROC, …I restore all legal territory, people,
administration, political, economic, and cultural
facilities and assets of Taiwan [including the
Penghu Islands].”
1947
The ROC Constitution is promulgated Jan.
1 and is scheduled to take effect Dec. 25. In
March and the following months, ROC troops
dispatched from China suppress a large-scale
uprising of Taiwan residents sparked by the
February 28 Incident.
1948
As full-scale civil war rages in China between the
Kuomintang-led ROC government and CCP, the
Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period
of National Mobilization for Suppression of the
Communist Rebellion are enacted, overriding
the ROC Constitution and greatly expanding
presidential powers. This begins the period
of White Terror that lasts until 1991 when the
Temporary Provisions are lifted.
1949
The ROC government relocates to Taiwan,
followed by 1.2 million people from China.
Oct. 25 sees the Battle of Kuningtou on Kinmen,
in which the ROC armed forces defeat the CCP
on the northwestern coast of the island.
Martial law is declared in Taiwan and continues to
be in force until 1987.
1952
Following the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty
with Japan signed by 48 Allied nations on behalf
of the United Nations, the Treaty of Peace is
signed between the ROC and Japan at Taipei
Guest House, formally ending the state of war
between the two parties. It is recognized that
under Article 2 of the San Francisco Treaty, Japan
has renounced all right, title, and claim to Taiwan
(Formosa) and Penghu (the Pescadores) as well
as the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands. All
treaties, conventions and agreements concluded
before Dec. 9, 1941, between China and Japan
become null and void as a consequence of
the war.
1954
The ROC-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty is signed in
Washington.
1958
Aug. 23 sees the start of an artillery duel between
the ROC garrison on Kinmen and Chinese forces
that lasts more than 40 days.
1966
The first Export Processing Zone is established in
Kaohsiung City, southern Taiwan. The creation of
such zones propels Taiwan toward becoming a
developed nation, setting a paradigm for other
countries to follow.
1968
The nine-year compulsory education system
is launched at a time when fewer than nine
countries globally have compulsory education
systems of this length or more.
1971
On Oct. 25, the United Nations General Assembly
passes U.N. Resolution 2758 recognizing the
People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the only
legitimate representative of China to the global
body. The ROC withdraws from the U.N.
1979
Democracy activists demonstrating in Kaohsiung
are arrested and imprisoned following
what is known as the Kaohsiung Incident,
which eventually leads to the formation and
development of the Democratic Progressive Party
in 1986.
1987
Martial law, in effect since 1949, ends, and bans
on the formation of new political parties and
news publications are lifted. Democratization
goes into high gear.
Cross-strait people-to-people exchanges begin.
1991
The Temporary Provisions Effective During the
Period of National Mobilization for Suppression
of the Communist Rebellion are abolished.
A complete re-election of all congressional
representatives, including members of the
Legislature and National Assembly, takes place
from 1991 to 1992, giving the people of Taiwan
full representation. From 1991 through 2005,
the ROC Constitution undergoes seven rounds
of revision.
Taiwan becomes a member of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation.
1992
Government-authorized representatives from
across the Taiwan Strait meet for the first time in
Hong Kong, and via subsequent communication
and negotiations, arrive at various joint
acknowledgements and understandings.
1995
The National Health Insurance program begins.
The February 28 Incident Disposition and
Compensation Act goes into effect.
1996
The ROC holds its first-ever direct presidential
election, with the KMT’s Lee Teng-hui and
running mate Lien Chan garnering 54 percent of
the vote.
2000
Chen Shui-bian and Annette Hsiu-lien Lu
of the DPP are elected president and vice
president, ending the KMT’s more than 50-
year rule and marking the first transfer of
ROC government executive power in Taiwan
between political parties.
2002
Taiwan becomes a member of the World Trade
Organization.
Two national defense laws based upon the
principle of unifying military policymaking and
command are officially enforced on March 1. New
subordinates of the Ministry of National Defense
are established and organized with regulations
to carry out the task of “nationalization of the
armed forces.”
2003
The Legislative Yuan passes the Referendum Act,
providing a legal basis for citizens to vote directly
on issues of local or national importance.
2004
The first national referendum is held in
conjunction with the third direct presidential
election, in which Chen and Lu are re-elected.
2005
The Legislative Yuan passes a constitutional
amendment package, halving the number of its
seats from 225 to 113 and introducing the single-district,
two-votes system for legislative elections.
2008
Ma Ying-jeou and Vincent C. Siew of the KMT
are elected president and vice president of
the ROC, marking the second transfer of ROC
government executive power in Taiwan between
political parties.
2009
Taiwan attends the World Health Assembly as
an observer, marking its first participation in an
activity of the U.N. since its withdrawal in 1971.
President Ma signs the instruments of ratification
of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights and the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
2010
The ROC inks the Cross-Straits Economic
Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with
China to institutionalize economic and trade
relations across the Taiwan Strait.
2011
The centennial of the ROC is celebrated in Taiwan.
2012
Incumbent Ma Ying-jeou and his new running
mate Wu Den-yih, representing the KMT, win the
election for president and vice president.
2013
Taiwan signs an agreement on economic
cooperation with New Zealand and an agreement
on economic partnership with Singapore.
Taiwan attends the 38th session of the
International Civil Aviation Organization
Assembly as the guest of the council’s president.
2014
Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi
holds a formal meeting with China’s Taiwan
Affairs Office Director Zhang Zhijun in Nanjing
in February, marking the first official contact
between the heads of the respective government
agencies responsible for cross-strait relations.
Sunflower Movement protesters occupy the
Legislature to oppose the passing of the Cross-Strait
Service Trade Agreement, preventing its passage.
A record 11,130 candidates are elected
nationwide for nine categories of local
government representatives in what are known as
the “nine-in-one” local elections.
2015
President Ma and Chinese leader Xi Jinping meet
in Singapore in November, marking the first top-level
meeting between the two sides in 66 years.
Taiwan signs the WTO’s Trade Facilitation
Agreement and submits its instrument of
acceptance to the organization.
2016
DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen and academic
Chen Chien-jen are elected president and vice
president of the ROC.
The DPP gains its first legislative majority after
securing 68 of the 113 seats.
President Tsai Ing-wen officially apologizes
on behalf of the government to the nation’s
Indigenous peoples for the pain and
mistreatment they endured for centuries.
2017
The Indigenous Languages Development Act
is enacted to preserve and promote the native
tongues of Taiwan’s 16 officially recognized
Indigenous tribes.
Taiwan hosts the Taipei 2017 Summer
Universiade.
FORMOSAT-5, the nation’s first homegrown
ultra-high resolution Earth observation satellite,
is launched.
2018
Taiwan’s Transitional Justice Commission is
inaugurated May 31. President Tsai issues an
apology to victims of political persecution during
the country’s White Terror period from 1949 to
1991 following the commission’s decision to
expunge their criminal records.
2019
A special law legalizing same-sex marriage is
passed, making Taiwan the first country in Asia to
allow LGBT unions.
2020
Tsai Ing-wen and running mate Lai Ching-te of
the ruling DPP party win the 2020 presidential
election. The DPP retains its legislative majority.
2022
The MND establishes Jan. 1 an All-out Defense
Mobilization Agency for the purpose of utilizing
military reserves and assisting with all related
activities and affairs.
The Ministry of Digital Affairs is established
Aug. 27 to facilitate the development of related
industries and coordinate the overall planning of
digital governance and infrastructure.
2024
Presidential and legislative elections are
scheduled in January.