Taiwan - refers to the island of Taiwan and adjacent islands in the southern part of the East China Sea.
Area - 35,961 km². Administrative center - Taipei (over 2.6 million). Population - 22.7 million (2004); mainly Chinese (97%), as well as descendants of the indigenous people of the island - Gaoshans (1.7%) and others. Official language - Chinese. Main religions: Buddhism (45%), Daoism (33%), Christianity (7%). Currency - new Taiwan dollar.
In ancient times, Taiwan was called Yizhou or Liuchu. The governments of various eras and dynasties of China established administrative bodies on the island and exercised their jurisdiction there. In 1590, Portuguese colonizers captured Taiwan, calling it Formosa ("Beautiful"), and in 1641, they were replaced by Dutch conquerors, who were expelled in 1661. Administratively, Taiwan was initially included in the Chinese province of Fujian, and in 1887 it was separated into an independent province. In 1895, the island was captured by Japan. In 1945, after Japan's defeat in World War II, Taiwan was returned to China, and the Central Government of China restored administrative authority there. In 1949, shortly before the proclamation of the PRC and under the pressure of the communist regime being established on the mainland, the Kuomintang's National Government of the Republic of China, led by Chiang Kai-shek, relocated to the island. In 1950, simultaneously with the beginning of the Korean War, the USA sent its 7th Fleet to the Taiwan Strait, and in 1954, signed a mutual defense treaty with the Taiwanese authorities.
The government of the PRC advocates for the reunification of the country. On January 1, 1979, the PRC and the USA officially established diplomatic relations, with the USA recognizing the government of the PRC as the only legitimate government of China, and Taiwan as an integral part of China, terminating diplomatic relations with the Taiwanese authorities and announcing the cessation of the mutual defense treaty and withdrawal of its troops from Taiwan.
To resolve the Taiwan issue, the government of the PRC proposed the formula - "peaceful reunification and one country - two systems" (one China, coexistence of two systems, a high degree of self-government for Taiwan, peaceful negotiations), and has repeatedly made proposals regarding the development of relations and acceleration of the peaceful reunification process. The possibility of using force is not excluded for the reunification of the country.
In Beijing's view, Taiwan should recognize the government of the PRC and become a special administrative region of China within the framework of a unified state, retaining the right to maintain its socio-economic system. Taipei has not accepted the PRC's formula and proposed its own - "one country - two governments," insisting on discussions between "two equal sovereign partners" exercising effective control over "their respective territories." Political negotiations on the reunification issue, which began in 1992, were interrupted in 1996, and their resumption, scheduled for mid-1998, did not take place.
The Taiwanese authorities officially refer to the island as the "Republic of China" and until recently made claims to represent all of China. Currently, the territory under the control of the "government of the Republic of China" includes the island of Taiwan, the Penghu archipelago, and the islands of Jinmen and Matsu located off the coast of mainland China (in the PRC, this territory is included in the official administrative division as one of the provinces).
According to the current constitution of Taiwan, adopted in 1947, the head of the "state" is the president (since March 2000 - Chen Shui-bian, re-elected for a 4-year term in March 2004). The administration of Taiwan consists of 5 main chambers - yuans: the Legislative Yuan (unicameral parliament), the Executive Yuan (government, headed by Frank Hsieh since January 2005), the Control Yuan (oversight of the executive bodies), the Judicial Yuan (development of new laws and amendments to the constitution), and the Examination Yuan (conducting examinations for civil servants upon entering government institutions and for promotions). The president and the 5 yuans have the same term of office - 4 years.
In the mid-1980s, during the presidency of Chiang Ching-kuo, the son of Chiang Kai-shek, the political system on the island began to be reorganized, with the main points being the abolition of martial law, legalization of opposition parties, and generational change in parliament. President Lee Teng-hui (1988-2000), who succeeded Chiang Ching-kuo, a representative of the indigenous Taiwanese population, continued the reforms. Under him, laws on elections, public organizations, voluntary retirement of elderly members of parliament, and amendments to the constitution aimed at further reforming the political structure were adopted.
On March 18, 2000, the second presidential elections based on universal suffrage were held in Taiwan. The ruling Kuomintang party, which had been in power for many decades, suffered defeat. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led by Chen Shui-bian came to power. On March 20, 2004, in the third presidential elections, Chen Shui-bian won again by a narrow margin (less than 30,000 votes) alongside Vice President Annette Lu (female).
The main political parties are the Democratic Progressive Party (existing since 1986, chairman - Su Tseng-chang, secretary-general - Lee Yi-yang), the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party of China, chairman - Ma Ying-jeou, secretary-general - Lin Feng-cheng), the People First Party (founded on March 31, 2000, founder and chairman - former prominent Kuomintang figure Sun Chuyu, secretary-general - Chung Jung-chi), the Taiwan Solidarity Union (formed in August 2001 under the patronage of former President Lee Teng-hui, advocating for the "Taiwanization" of the island; chairman - Su Ching-chiang), and the New Party (formed in 1993, leader - Yu Mu-min). There are over 80 smaller political parties and groups that do not play a significant role in Taiwan's political life.
As a result of the elections to the Legislative Yuan (December 11, 2004), in the 225-seat parliament, the Democratic Progressive Party has 89 seats, the Kuomintang has 79, the People First Party has 34, the Taiwan Solidarity Union has 12, the Solidarity Union of Independents has 6, the New Party has 1, and independent candidates have 4.
After the end of World War II, Taiwan, maintaining one of the highest economic growth and export rates in the world, has become a relatively powerful administrative entity. It now stands alongside the members of the group of newly industrialized countries, the "little economic dragons" of East Asia (which also include Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore), playing an increasingly significant role in the economy of the Asia-Pacific region. In 1991, it joined the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation organization, and in 2001, the World Trade Organization.
In 2004, the island's GDP amounted to $311 billion, with a per capita income level of about $13,500. Foreign exchange reserves increased to $253.6 billion (3rd place in the world). The trend of the 1990s towards reducing unemployment could not be maintained - in recent years it has risen to 4.44%.
Taiwanese people are making targeted efforts to maintain high economic growth rates. In the production of certain types of products, the island consistently occupies leading positions in the world economy - computers, electronic household appliances, clothing, footwear, and sports yachts. Taiwan is also a major exporter of various peripheral equipment, electronic components, furniture, textiles, metallurgical products, chemicals, and precision machinery.
The volume of foreign trade of the territory reached $341.9 billion in 2004 (exports - $174 billion, imports - $167.9 billion). The main trading partners are Japan and the USA. The volume of indirect trade with the PRC is constantly growing and reached $50.7 billion (2004). The total volume of Taiwanese investments in the economy of mainland China is estimated to be between $80 billion and $140 billion.
Overall, Taiwan is in diplomatic isolation from the world community. In 1971, a UN General Assembly session adopted a resolution restoring the legitimate rights of the PRC in the UN and excluding Taiwanese representatives from the UN and all its organs. As a result, Taipei retains only some international positions. It is recognized by 25 countries, including small states in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, and Oceania. The main support for Taiwan's existence continues to be the United States. Washington constantly warns Beijing against the use of force regarding Taiwan, and in the past has repeatedly resorted to preventive measures in response to demonstrations of such force by the PRC. Large-scale sales of American weapons to Taiwan continue, and the island is being directly connected to American military strategy in the Asia-Pacific region.
In relations with Taiwan, the Russian Federation proceeds from the position that the government of the PRC is the only legitimate government representing all of China, and Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory. This position is enshrined in the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China dated July 16, 2001, as well as in a number of bilateral declarations and communiqués.
Russia does not maintain official intergovernmental relations and contacts with Taiwan. Trade, economic, scientific, technical, cultural, and other ties between the parties are conducted on an unofficial basis. The volume of Russian-Taiwanese trade turnover in 2004 was $2.9 billion (compared to $1.2 billion in 1996) with a positive balance for Russia of over $2 billion. The main components of Russian exports to Taiwan are metals and raw materials (including iron ore, timber, etc.); while Russia imports computers and accessories, electronics, and consumer goods. Maritime communication is maintained, and negotiations are underway to conclude an agreement on air communication.
Since 1993, a representative office of the Taipei-Moscow Coordination Commission for Economic and Cultural Cooperation has been operating in Moscow. A similar representative office of the Moscow-Taipei Coordination Commission was opened in Taipei in December 1996.
