Republic of China in Taiwan

Résumé du document

Small country of North-East Asia, Taiwan has experienced numerous developments throughout its history, founding over the centuries its own political identity, from the beginnings as a Ch'ing prefecture and province, to the half-century of Japanese possession and to the last fifty years as the home of the Republic of China. Taiwan has made incredible progress over this half past century, both politically and economically. If its Growth National Product went from two hundred dollars per capita in the end of World War II up to more than thirteen thousand dollar in the end of the century, Taiwan also managed to go from an authoritarian dictatorship to a democratic, multiparty regime.
However, those spectacular improvements don't hide its tricky political situation, both domestically and internationally, regarding its special history. Actually, its official name, Republic of China, makes plain the remnants of its intricate heritage over its current situation. Caught between its giant neighbours, the Unites-States and People's Republic of China, Taiwan had to assert its will during the Cold War, and still has to, in the new global order. The situation still represents a potential cause for an armed conflict and repeatedly comes to make the headlines of our newspapers. Taiwan's economic success and geo-political position in Asia give it a weight far more important than its size (240 miles long and 85 miles wide) or the number of its population (over 22 millions) might suggest.

Extraits

[...] So, the situation was really gloomy. Fierce battles taken place, and the ROC had managed to resist and even to win impressive victories but it was only a matter of time for PRC to win. However, the beginning of Korea's war, on June 1950, made the United States re-evaluate the situation and finally it accepted to treat the China-Taiwan conflict as a part of the Cold War. As a consequence, it gave Taiwan military and economic support and took control of the strait, stopping Chinese attacks. [...]

[...] Economic performances In the case of Taiwan, the economy is a crucial point for politics. Actually, economic problems in the 1940's can be deemed as the major reason for the fall of the mainland. Domestic stability demanded economic improvements for the population and, if it wasn't sufficient all the resources of this small island had to be mobilized in order to try achieving the main goal of the Nationalist government: win China back. So, the party took strong measures to ensure the economic prosperity of Taiwan. [...]

[...] Through it, the only legal organization of students, he taught fervent patriotism and closely checked any sign of rebellion. All those measures and changes were possible because of the martial law, decreed in the name of security. The KMT never rejected the principle of democracy; the martial law was to be temporary, was to be lifted as soon as the Communist threat was over. Nonetheless, it permitted to the army to arrest civilians suspected of communism, of threatening the ROC or simply for disturbing the public order. [...]

[...] In his official speech of investiture, he publicly acknowledged his responsibility for the loss of the mainland but he also announced he would carry out a vast plan to reconstruct the KMT, in every field. First, he got rid of the majority of the old commanders, held responsible for the fall of the mainland and appointed young and faithful followers in order to revitalize the party. He sited them in a Central Reform Committee with a huge amount of power over the party itself, which they had to totally recreate; he even suspended all other committees. [...]

[...] The KMT augmented the compulsory years of education from six to nine, created numerous schools and developed higher education. It significantly improved the social mobility and permitted the apparition of a good middle class of Taiwanese-born people. The party always kept a strong hand in the economy. The refugees from China were generally high educated and efficient, they quickly replaced the jobs left behind by the Japanese in the top of the hierarchy. So, if the local people obtained a better standard of life, the mainlanders were still in charge of the island. [...]