At a Glance
Taiwan: References & Edit History
More Articles On This Topic
- 8 Hotly Disputed Borders of the WorldTaiwan
- AnthropologyAnthropology in Asia
- Chinese calendar
- Chinese literatureLiterature in Taiwan after 1949
- TaoismTaoism in modern times
- economic developmentThe importance of agriculture
- History of filmTaiwan
- flag of Taiwan
- land reformSoutheast Asia
- Austronesian languagesSize and geographic scope
- Malaysian-Australian monsoonMonsoonal development
- nuclear weaponTaiwan
- TaiwanLand
- Pinyin romanization
- TaiwanThe people
- railroadSouth Korea, Taiwan, and China
Additional Reading
General
The best general official reference is Harold Chang et al. (eds.), Republic of China: A Reference Book (1983), sponsored by Taiwan’s Government Information Office. Also from the Government Information Office is The Republic of China Yearbook (1987– ). John F. Copper, Taiwan: Nation-State or Province?, 6th ed. (2013), is a comprehensive overview. The Free China Journal (weekly) and Free China Review (monthly) are two periodicals that cover current political and cultural events.
Geography
Useful works are Cheng-siang Chen, T’ai-wan ti chi (“A Geography of Taiwan”), 3 vol. (1959–61), in Chinese, which remains the most-comprehensive descriptive geography, and Geo-Essays on Taiwan (1982, reissued 1995).
Overviews of the first decades of postwar economic development include Walter Galenson (ed.), Economic Growth and Structural Change in Taiwan (1979); Samuel P.S. Ho, Economic Development of Taiwan, 1860–1970 (1978); and John C.H. Fei, Gustav Ranis, and Shirley W.Y. Kuo, Growth with Equity: The Taiwan Case (1979). Among more-recent studies are Kou-ting Li, The Evolution of Policy Behind Taiwan’s Development Success, 2nd ed. (1995); and Cal Clark, Taiwan’s Development: Implications for Contending Political Economy Paradigms (1989).
Discussions of political issues include Hung-mao Tien, The Great Transition: Political and Social Change in the Republic of China (1989); Alan M. Wachman, Taiwan: National Identity and Democratization (1994); Linda Chao and Ramon H. Myers, The First Chinese Democracy: Political Life in the Republic of China on Taiwan (1998); Shelley Rigger, Politics in Taiwan: Voting for Democracy (1999); and Dennis Van Vranken Hickey, Foreign Policy Making in Taiwan: From Principle to Pragmatism (2007). Useful works on social and cultural background are Emily Martin Ahern and Hill Gates (eds.), The Anthropology of Taiwanese Society (1981); and Thomas B. Gold, State and Society in the Taiwan Miracle (1986).
History
A thorough overview is provided in John F. Copper, Historical Dictionary of Taiwan (Republic of China), 4th ed. (2015). Other useful surveys include Murray A. Rubinstein (ed.), Taiwan: A New History, expanded ed. (2007); and Denny Roy, Taiwan: A Political History (2003).
Studies on more-specific issues or incidents include George H. Kerr, Formosa Betrayed, 3rd ed. (2005); Lai Tse-han, Ramon H. Myers, and Wei Wou, A Tragic Beginning: The Taiwan Uprising of February 28, 1947 (1991); Jay Taylor, The Generalissimo’s Son: Chiang Ching-kuo and the Revolutions in China and Taiwan (2000); Richard C. Bush, Untying the Knot: Making Peace in the Taiwan Strait (2005); and John F. Copper, Playing with Fire: The Looming War with China over Taiwan (2006).
Article Contributors
Primary Contributors
- John C. Copper
-
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors
Article History
| Type | Description | Contributor | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Updated currency exchange rate. | Nov 08, 2026 | ||
| Country Profile: Literacy rate removed. | Jul 01, 2026 | ||
| Links added. | Apr 24, 2025 | ||
| Added cross-reference. | Jul 27, 2024 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated Head of state and Head of government. | May 20, 2024 | ||
| Added information on April 2024 earthquake. | Apr 03, 2024 | ||
| Updated for the January 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections. | Jan 19, 2024 | ||
| Country Profile: Corrected display issue. | Jan 16, 2024 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated Head of government. | Nov 09, 2023 | ||
| Media added. | Jun 20, 2023 | ||
| Links added. | Jan 09, 2023 | ||
| In the History section, noted the visit to Taiwan in August 2022 by U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. | Aug 02, 2022 | ||
| In the History section, added a description of events for the period 2020–22. | Aug 01, 2022 | ||
| Country Profile: Added cross-reference to Head of state. | Aug 01, 2022 | ||
| Removed media. | Nov 12, 2021 | ||
| Removed media. | Oct 26, 2021 | ||
| Invalidated site: Interesting Facts for Kids - Interesting Taiwan Facts. | Mar 10, 2021 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated Head of government. | Nov 30, 2020 | ||
| In the History section, added a description of Tsai's first presidential term. | Jan 30, 2020 | ||
| Deleted videos. | Dec 18, 2019 | ||
| Add new Web site: Interesting Facts for Kids - Interesting Taiwan Facts. | Oct 24, 2019 | ||
| Country Profile: Expanded country profile. | Sep 07, 2018 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated head of government. | Sep 11, 2017 | ||
| Media added. | May 25, 2017 | ||
| Contemporary history section thoroughly revised and updated. | May 10, 2017 | ||
| Media added. | May 10, 2017 | ||
| Early modern history section thoroughly revised and updated. | May 10, 2017 | ||
| Early history section thoroughly revised and updated. | May 10, 2017 | ||
| Late 20th-century history section thoroughly revised and updated. | May 10, 2017 | ||
| Media added. | May 10, 2017 | ||
| Early Nationalist period history section thoroughly revised and updated. | May 10, 2017 | ||
| Introduction thoroughly revised and updated. | May 08, 2017 | ||
| Cultural life section thoroughly revised and updated. | May 08, 2017 | ||
| Media added. | May 08, 2017 | ||
| People section thoroughly revised and updated. | May 08, 2017 | ||
| Government and society section thoroughly revised and updated. | May 08, 2017 | ||
| Media added. | May 08, 2017 | ||
| Media added. | Apr 27, 2017 | ||
| Bibliography thoroughly revised. | Apr 27, 2017 | ||
| Land section thoroughly revised and updated. | Apr 27, 2017 | ||
| Economy section thoroughly revised and updated. | Apr 27, 2017 | ||
| Add new Web site: Easy Science for Kids - Taiwan. | Dec 12, 2016 | ||
| Add new Web site: World InfoZone - Taiwan. | Dec 09, 2016 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated Head of government. | Aug 09, 2016 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated Head of state. | May 20, 2016 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated profile to add Mao Chi-kuo as Taiwan's prime minister. | Dec 05, 2014 | ||
| Add new Web site: Buzzle.com - Taiwan. | Jan 04, 2013 | ||
| Add new Web site: Lonely Planet - Taiwan. | Jan 04, 2013 | ||
| Add new Web site: Official Tourism Site of Taiwan. | Jan 04, 2013 | ||
| Country Profile: Added Chen Chun as premier. | May 30, 2012 | ||
| Country Profile: Added name of head of state and head of government, along with urban-rural, life expectancy, literacy, and GNI per capita statistics. | Feb 23, 2012 | ||
| Add new Web site: Iloveindia.com - Taiwan. | Jul 27, 2011 | ||
| Add new Web site: U.S. Department of State - Taiwan. | Jul 27, 2011 | ||
| Add new Web site: Fact Monster - World - Taiwan. | Jul 26, 2011 | ||
| History section updated to include mention of China-Taiwan bilateral talks and the 2010 trade agreement. | Jun 29, 2010 | ||
| Statement in the Introduction that Taipei is the provisional capital of the Republic of China was deleted. | Mar 11, 2010 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated area and population figures. | Mar 10, 2010 | ||
| History section handled to add mention of Chen Shui- bian's corruption conviction and prison sentence and of the August 2009 typhoon. | Sep 11, 2009 | ||
| Added new Web site: The Official Site of Taiwan. | Feb 20, 2009 | ||
| Article revised and updated. | Sep 11, 2008 | ||
| Country Profile: Added elected seats for aboriginal peoples. | Aug 27, 2008 | ||
| Added new Web site: Theoi Greek Mythology - Oenone. | Jul 08, 2008 | ||
| Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Geography - Geography of Taiwan. | Jul 07, 2008 | ||
| Article revised and updated. | Mar 24, 2008 | ||
| History section updated. | Jan 24, 2008 | ||
| Government section updated. | Jan 24, 2008 | ||
| Added new Web site: Chinavoc - The Establishment of the Republic of China. | Feb 20, 2007 | ||
| Added new Web site: Chinese History - Republican China. | Feb 20, 2007 | ||
| Added new Web site: Official Site for the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics of Executive Yuan - R.O.C Taiwan. | Dec 21, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Taiwan. | Jul 24, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: Travel Document Systems - Taiwan. | Jul 21, 2006 | ||
| Article revised. | Jun 16, 2005 | ||
| Article revised. | Mar 17, 2005 | ||
| Article revised. | Mar 21, 2003 | ||
| Article revised. | May 29, 2002 | ||
| Article revised. | Mar 10, 2000 | ||
| Article added to new online database. | Jul 26, 1999 |
View Changes:
Article History
Revised:
By: