Taiwan History Timeline

September 27, 2024

Geography

Taiwan, an island located off the southeastern coast of China, has a complex and multifaceted history shaped by indigenous cultures, waves of immigration, colonial rule, and modern political struggles. Over centuries, Taiwan has been controlled by various powers, including indigenous peoples, the Dutch, the Spanish, the Qing Dynasty, and Japan. In the 20th century, Taiwan became the seat of the Republic of China (ROC) government following the Chinese Civil War, and its political status has been a matter of international contention ever since. This timeline outlines Taiwan’s key historical events, from its early settlement by indigenous peoples to its present-day status as a democratic society and global economic player.

Ancient Taiwan and Indigenous Peoples (circa 4000 BCE – 17th century CE)

Early Settlement and Austronesian Peoples (circa 4000 BCE – 17th century CE)

  • Archaeological evidence suggests that Taiwan was first inhabited around 4000 BCE by Austronesian peoples, who are believed to have migrated from mainland China.
  • These early settlers developed distinct languages, customs, and agricultural practices, and their descendants became the indigenous peoples of Taiwan. Taiwan is considered a major source of the Austronesian language family, which spread across the Pacific to places like Hawaii, New Zealand, and Madagascar.
  • Over time, the indigenous peoples of Taiwan formed distinct tribes, including the Atayal, Paiwan, Bunun, Amis, and many others, each with their own language and cultural practices. Their societies were largely based on farming, fishing, and hunting.

Chinese and Portuguese Exploration (14th century CE – 17th century CE)

  • During the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) and the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) in China, Taiwan was known to Chinese sailors and traders, but it was not formally controlled by any Chinese state.
  • In 1544, Portuguese sailors passed by Taiwan and named it “Ilha Formosa” (meaning “Beautiful Island“), a name that persisted in European maps for centuries.
  • Chinese settlers from the Fujian province began migrating to Taiwan in small numbers during the late Ming Dynasty, but large-scale migration had not yet begun.

European Colonization and the Rise of Koxinga (1624 CE – 1683 CE)

The Dutch and Spanish Colonization (1624 CE – 1662 CE)

  • In 1624, the Dutch East India Company established a colony on the southwestern coast of Taiwan, building Fort Zeelandia near present-day Tainan. The Dutch colony sought to control the region’s lucrative trade routes and convert indigenous peoples to Christianity.
  • The Dutch colonizers established trade with Japan, China, and Southeast Asia, and brought in Han Chinese immigrants to work the land, laying the foundation for a significant Chinese population on the island.
  • Meanwhile, in 1626, the Spanish briefly established a settlement in northern Taiwan near Keelung and Tamsui, but they were driven out by the Dutch in 1642.

The Rise of Koxinga and the End of Dutch Rule (1661 CE – 1683 CE)

  • In 1661, Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong), a Ming loyalist military leader, landed in Taiwan with a large fleet after fleeing the mainland following the Qing Dynasty’s conquest of China. Koxinga viewed Taiwan as a base to launch future campaigns to restore the Ming Dynasty.
  • Koxinga successfully laid siege to Fort Zeelandia, defeating the Dutch in 1662 and establishing control over Taiwan. The Dutch surrendered, marking the end of European colonial rule on the island.
  • Koxinga established the Kingdom of Tungning in Taiwan, which ruled from 1662 until 1683 and served as a refuge for Ming loyalists. Koxinga’s forces maintained a tenuous hold over Taiwan until the island was conquered by the Qing Dynasty in 1683.

Qing Dynasty Rule (1683 CE – 1895 CE)

Incorporation into the Qing Empire (1683 CE – 1760 CE)

  • In 1683, the Qing Dynasty defeated the Kingdom of Tungning, incorporating Taiwan into the Qing Empire as part of Fujian Province. The Qing initially viewed Taiwan as a remote and unruly frontier, and they limited migration to the island.
  • Despite these restrictions, Chinese immigrants, particularly from the Fujian and Guangdong provinces, continued to arrive in increasing numbers. These Han Chinese settlers displaced indigenous peoples and transformed Taiwan’s economy by establishing large agricultural communities focused on rice and sugar cultivation.

Social Unrest and Qing Reforms (1760 CE – 1895 CE)

  • Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Taiwan experienced frequent uprisings, both from indigenous groups resisting Han Chinese encroachment and from Han settlers who rebelled against the Qing authorities.
  • Notable incidents of unrest included the Lin Shuangwen Rebellion (1787–1788), in which Chinese immigrants rebelled against the Qing government, and ongoing conflicts between Han settlers and indigenous groups in the mountainous regions of the island.
  • By the mid-19th century, the Qing Dynasty began to assert more control over Taiwan, making it a separate province in 1887 in response to increased foreign interest in the region, particularly from Japan and France.

Japanese Colonization (1895 CE – 1945 CE)

The Treaty of Shimonoseki and the Beginning of Japanese Rule (1895 CE)

  • In 1895, following China’s defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed, ceding Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands to Japan. The Qing government relinquished control of Taiwan, and Japan officially began its 50-year colonial rule over the island.
  • The transfer of power was met with resistance from Taiwanese elites and local populations, leading to the formation of the Republic of Formosa in 1895. However, the republic was short-lived, as Japanese forces quickly suppressed the rebellion and established full control over Taiwan.

Japanese Colonial Administration and Economic Development (1895 CE – 1945 CE)

  • Under Japanese rule, Taiwan underwent significant modernization and industrialization. Japan invested heavily in infrastructure, including the construction of railways, roads, ports, and schools. Taiwan became an important agricultural base for Japan, producing sugar, rice, and other goods for export to the Japanese mainland.
  • The Japanese colonial government implemented policies aimed at assimilating the Taiwanese population, promoting Japanese culture, language, and education. Indigenous groups, particularly those in mountainous regions, faced repression and forced assimilation.
  • Despite oppressive colonial policies, many Taiwanese benefitted from improved public services and economic development. Taiwan became one of the most industrialized and developed regions in East Asia by the early 20th century.

World War II and the End of Japanese Rule (1945 CE)

  • During World War II, Taiwan served as a strategic base for Japan’s military operations in the Pacific. The island was bombed by Allied forces, and many Taiwanese were conscripted into the Japanese military.
  • After Japan’s defeat in 1945, Taiwan was placed under the administrative control of the Republic of China (ROC) under Chiang Kai-shek‘s Kuomintang (KMT) government. The transfer of Taiwan to the ROC was based on agreements made during the Cairo Conference in 1943.

Post-War Period and Chinese Civil War (1945 CE – 1949 CE)

ROC Administration and the 228 Incident (1945 CE – 1947 CE)

  • The initial period of ROC rule in Taiwan was marked by tension between the local Taiwanese population and the new KMT administration. Corruption, economic mismanagement, and the influx of mainland Chinese bureaucrats led to widespread dissatisfaction.
  • On February 28, 1947, tensions erupted in the 228 Incident, a major anti-government uprising in Taiwan. The KMT government responded with a brutal crackdown, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Taiwanese civilians and the imposition of martial law.

The Chinese Civil War and the KMT Retreat to Taiwan (1949 CE)

  • As the Chinese Civil War between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the KMT intensified, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), led by Mao Zedong, declared victory on the mainland in 1949.
  • Chiang Kai-shek and the KMT government retreated to Taiwan, establishing the island as the seat of the Republic of China (ROC) government. The KMT implemented martial law and took control of Taiwan’s military and political apparatus, setting the stage for decades of authoritarian rule.

The Cold War Era and Taiwan’s Economic Miracle (1950 CE – 1991 CE)

US-Taiwan Relations and Cold War Alliances (1950 CE – 1971 CE)

  • During the Cold War, Taiwan became a key ally of the United States in its strategy to contain communism in East Asia. In 1950, after the outbreak of the Korean War, the US provided military and economic aid to Taiwan, ensuring the island’s security against a potential invasion from the mainland.
  • The Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and Taiwan, signed in 1954, further cemented the US-Taiwan alliance and provided a security guarantee for Taiwan.
  • Taiwan retained its seat as the representative of China in the United Nations until 1971, when the PRC was recognized as the legitimate government of China and Taiwan lost its UN seat.

Taiwan’s Economic Miracle (1960s – 1990s)

  • Taiwan’s economy began to transform in the 1960s and 1970s, with the government implementing export-oriented industrialization policies. Taiwan rapidly industrialized, becoming one of the “Four Asian Tigers” along with Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore.
  • The government encouraged the development of electronics, textiles, and manufacturing industries, which spurred rapid economic growth. By the 1980s, Taiwan had transformed from an agrarian society into a global leader in high-tech industries, especially semiconductors.
  • Taiwan’s economic miracle raised the standard of living, expanded the middle class, and positioned Taiwan as a significant player in global trade and economics.

The End of Martial Law and Democratization (1980s – 1991 CE)

  • Beginning in the 1980s, Taiwan experienced increasing demands for political reform and democratization. Social movements, including labor strikes, student protests, and environmental campaigns, called for an end to KMT authoritarian rule.
  • In 1987, President Chiang Ching-kuo, son of Chiang Kai-shek, lifted martial law, which had been in place since 1949. This marked the beginning of Taiwan’s transition to democracy.
  • In 1991, the KMT officially ended the Temporary Provisions enacted during the civil war, paving the way for full democratic reforms, including free and fair elections.

Modern Democratic Taiwan (1992 CE – Present)

Democratic Reforms and the First Direct Presidential Election (1992 CE – 2000 CE)

  • In 1992, Taiwan held its first direct legislative elections, followed by the first direct presidential election in 1996. Lee Teng-hui, the incumbent president and a member of the KMT, won the election, becoming Taiwan’s first democratically elected leader.
  • Lee Teng-hui is credited with overseeing Taiwan’s democratic transition and advocating for Taiwanization, a process of promoting Taiwan’s distinct identity separate from China. Under his leadership, Taiwan pursued a more independent foreign policy, which led to tensions with the PRC.

The Rise of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (2000 CE – 2016 CE)

  • In 2000, Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the presidential election, marking the first time the KMT had lost power in Taiwan. Chen’s administration was characterized by a strong emphasis on Taiwanese identity and independence, further straining relations with China.
  • The DPP is known for its pro-independence stance, advocating for a more distinct separation between Taiwan and mainland China, while the KMT historically favored eventual reunification with China under certain conditions.

Tsai Ing-wen and Current Cross-Strait Relations (2016 CE – Present)

  • In 2016, Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP was elected as Taiwan’s first female president, and she was re-elected in 2020. Tsai has maintained a policy of maintaining the status quo in cross-strait relations, refusing to formally declare independence while rejecting China’s One-China policy.
  • Under Tsai’s leadership, Taiwan has strengthened its global presence and focused on diversifying its economy, particularly through the New Southbound Policy, which seeks to deepen ties with Southeast Asian nations.
  • Cross-strait relations remain tense, as China continues to claim Taiwan as a part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. Meanwhile, Taiwan continues to enjoy de facto independence and operates as a democratic state with its own government, military, and economy.

Related Posts: