Taiwan Strait | strait, China Sea | Britannica.com Taiwan Strait Alternative Titles: Formosa Strait, T’ai-wan Hai-hsia, Taiwan Haixia Similar Topics Strait of Gibraltar Taiwan Strait, also called Formosa Strait, Chinese (Wade-Giles romanization) T’ai-wan Hai-hsia or (Pinyin) Taiwan Haixia, arm of the Pacific Ocean , 100 miles (160 km) wide at its narrowest point, lying between the coast of China’s Fukien province and the island of Taiwan (Formosa). The strait extends from southwest to northeast between the South and East China seas. It reaches a depth of about 230 feet (70 m) and contains the Pescadores Islands (which are controlled by the government of Taiwan). The chief ports are Amoy in mainland China and Kao-hsiung on Taiwan. The area lies in a typhoon zone. The strait was named Formosa (“Beautiful”) by Portuguese navigators in the late 16th century; although it is still known in the West by its European name, the Chinese and now most Westerners use the name Taiwan Strait.

Learn More in these related articles: in Taiwan: Relief ...Ocean. The island of Taiwan is formed by a fault block trending north-northeast to south-southwest and tilted toward the west. The more gently rising western face of the block borders the shallow Taiwan Strait, under which the continental shelf connects the island to the Chinese mainland. The terraced tablelands and alluvial plains along the western face of the block provide the principal... 1 Reference found in Britannica Articles Assorted Reference relief of Taiwan (in Taiwan: Relief ) External Links Taiwan Strait - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11) The Taiwan Strait (also called the Formosa Strait) is a narrow body of water that separates the island of Taiwan from the southeastern coast of mainland China. The strait is an arm of the Pacific Ocean. It links the South China Sea, to the southwest, with the East China Sea, to the northeast. Taiwan Strait - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The island of Taiwan is separated from the southeastern coast of mainland China by a narrow body of water known as the Taiwan Strait. The strait is an arm of the Pacific Ocean.

It links the South China Sea, to the southwest, with the East China Sea, to the northeast (see China Sea). The strait is also called Formosa ("Beautiful") Strait, a name given to it by Portuguese navigators in the late 16th century. Article History Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources. At the bottom of the article, feel free to list any sources that support your changes, so that we can fully understand their context. (Internet URLs are the best.) Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval. Unfortunately, our editorial approach may not be able to accommodate all contributions.

Submit Thank You for Your Contribution! Our editors will review what you've submitted, and if it meets our criteria, we'll add it to the article. Please note that our editors may make some formatting changes or correct spelling or grammatical errors, and may also contact you if any clarifications are needed. Uh Oh There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later. Close Date Published: July 20, 1998 URL: Access Date: January 20, 2017 Share strait - National Geographic Society strait The Strait of Messina, separating Sicily from the Italian mainland, is so narrow that the Italian government has considered building a bridge across it. Photograph by Patrick McCarthy, MyShot Taiwan Strait War? China and Taiwan have not gone to war over the Taiwan Strait, but many political scientists fear they might. The Taiwan Strait separates mainland China from the island of Taiwan. Taiwan is an important trading partner of the United States and other western nations. Any conflict with China may threaten U.S. economic and political interests. There have been three Taiwan Strait Crises. The last, in 1995-1996, involved the U.S.

allowing the president of Taiwan to speak in the U.S. He expressed his hope for an independent Taiwan, angering Chinese officials. A strait is a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water. It may be formed by a fracture in an isthmus , a narrow body of land that connects two bodies of water. Tectonic shifts can lead to straits like this. One strait that was formed by tectonic activity is the Strait of Gibraltar, the only link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The Strait of Gibraltar is actually closing, as the African tectonic plate slides north. In a few thousand years, the Strait of Gibraltar will be the Isthmus of Gibraltar, and the Mediterranean will be a large, salty, inland sea. If fractures in an isthmus are created by human activity, the straits are usually called canal s. The Suez Canal was constructed in 1869 as a waterway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The Suez Canal allows transportation between Europe and Asia without having to go around the entire continent of Africa. It is an important economic strait.

A strait can also be formed by a body of water overflowing land that has subside d or has been erode d. The Bosporus, which links the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, was formed this way. Land at the southwestern edge of the Black Sea eroded and crumbled, creating a strait. Although scientists know that the Black Sea was once an enclosed lake , they do not know for sure whether the Black Sea flooded into the Aegean, or the Aegean flooded into the Black Sea. The Bosporus is an extremely important strait, separating the continents of Europe and Asia. Besides two entire continents, the Bosporus also separates a single country . It splits the European part of Turkey, called Thrace , and the Asian part, called Anatolia . Strategic Straits Historically, straits have had great strategic importance. Whoever controls a strait is likely to control the sea and shipping route s of the entire region . The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf and a part of the Arabian Sea called the Gulf of Oman. Great quantities of petroleum from Middle East ern states are shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.

The strait is jointly controlled by Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran. These countries, which all export oil , are rarely in dispute with each other. They all have military centers in the region. Countries that import oil from the region also patrol the Strait of Hormuz. Sometimes, these military patrols can lead to conflict . In 2008, the United States accused Iran of harassing U.S. warships with small speedboats. Iran denied the allegations. The two countries were close to conflict for months before the dispute was settled without violence. Their narrow passages can make some straits difficult to navigate . The Strait of Magellan is a very thin waterway between the southern tip of South America and the group of islands known as Tierra del Fuego . The strait links the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The stormy waters south of Tierra del Fuego (close to Antarctica) made the Strait of Magellan, to the north, more attractive to mariner s. Although the landmass es protect the strait from harsh Antarctic weather , the Strait of Magellan is still difficult to navigate. It is narrow and the island s of Tierra del Fuego can lead to confusion in stormy weather. The temperature s can reach freezing.

Strong wind and wave s make visibility and steer ing complex . Whaling ships of the 19th century, sailing from the East Coast of the United States to the whaling grounds of the South Pacific, would sometimes stay for weeks around the Strait of Magellan, waiting for calm, clear days for passage. Term part of the country of Turkey located in Asia. canal a disagreement or fight, usually over ideas or procedures. continent geographic territory with a distinct name, flag, population, boundaries, and government. dispute having to do with money. erode to transport goods to another place for trade. fracture to bring in a good or service from another area for trade. inland area not near the ocean. island region of southwest Asia and northeast Africa. military to plan and direct the course of a journey. oil Noun fossil fuel formed from the remains of marine plants and animals. Also known as petroleum or crude oil. patrol to survey and monitor an area by passing through it. petroleum fossil fuel formed from the remains of ancient organisms. Also called crude oil. region Noun any area on Earth with one or more common characteristics. Regions are the basic units of geography. path in a body of water used for trade.

steer important part of a place or plan. subside to return to a lower level. tectonic activity movement of tectonic plates resulting in geologic activity such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. tectonic plate Noun massive slab of solid rock made up of Earth's lithosphere (crust and upper mantle). Also called lithospheric plate. temperature part of the country of Turkey located in Europe. Tierra del Fuego group of islands at the southern tip of South America. transportation movement of people or goods from one place to another. visibility the ability to see or be seen with the unaided eye. Also called visual range. waterway body of water that serves as a route for transportation. wave moving swell on the surface of water. weather Taiwan Strait Republic of Taiwan ~ Travel Channel - Tips for Traveling the World| Explore Traveler Taiwan Strait Republic of Taiwan We love to share our ideas, tips, and opportunities with you. Email * Yes, I would like to receive emails from . (You can unsubscribe anytime) By submitting this form, you are granting: ExploreTraveler Inc, 187 E. Warm Springs Rd Suite B, Las Vegas, NV, 89119, permission to email you.

You may unsubscribe via the link found at the bottom of every email. (See our Email Privacy Policy ( for details.) Emails are serviced by Constant Contact. The shells over Formosa Strait in Taiwan Shells Over Taiwan Strait In Taiwan Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait is the water between the mainland and the Island of Taiwan. It is also known as the Black Ditch. It is about 110 miles long. The narrowest part of the strait is 81 miles wide. This is what separates the mainland of China from Taiwan. Much of the Chinese on the North of the island speak Mandarin Chinese. The main culture for those Northern Chinese is the same as in China. That being said, the strait is the main thing that separates the island Chinese from the mainland Chinese. Of course other parts of the island speak Taiwanese and other indigenous languages. When you go to the South, the language changes and so do many of the customs. In the South there is a greater difference in the customs and habits of the people. The Taiwan Strait is home to several islands just off the coast of the mainland.

The islands of Quemoy, Pingtan, Matxu, and Xiamen all lie just off the coast of Fujian Province in the Mainland of China. To the east of Taiwan Strait are the west coasts of Taiwan and Penghu. Fisherman from all the islands us the Taiwan Strait as their main fishing grounds. The Min and Jiulong Rivers in Mainland China both empty into the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwan Strait has some of the richest fishing grounds in the area and is used by Taiwan, Japan, and the smaller islands that call the Taiwan Strait home. In recent months, Japan and Taiwan have made an international fishing agreement that works on making agreements so that all the fisherman can fish in peace. Taiwan Strait is beautiful shells stand at the entrance to the strait and command a lot interest with tourists. This is one of the many areas you will want to see on your next Taiwan vacation. Taiwan's Geography China and Taiwan Their relationship Taiwan is less than 100 miles away from China, with the Taiwan Strait separating the two. Taiwan's most enduring problem is its troubled relationship with China. The island's existence as a separate country is a humiliation to the mainland (China), which considers Taiwan a breakaway province.

By insisting that Taiwan return to the motherland on its terms, and by threatening military force in order to achieve this, China has left itself little room for a peaceful solution. 1. What part of Taiwanese and Chinese culture makes the separation of Taiwan from China a humiliating situation? (hint: see " The People " section) 2. Why doesn't Taiwan want to be a part of China? 3. What contradiction is the USA making regarding Taiwan's independence? A pro-Taiwan rally. Taiwan wants independence, China wants Taiwan back in their control. Polls show that the vast majority of people in Taiwan which to remain separate from China. That stance has strengthened in the past decade, as the China-born "mainlander" generation has lost influence, and a pro-Taiwan identity has emerged. The Taiwanese people see no reason to return to China, which they view as a badly governed country where business is dominated by corrupt officials, personal freedom is limited, and the quality of life is poor. However, despite having opposite goals, the two sides have talked. In 1992 and 1993, discussions were held under a One China platform, which held that Taiwan and China were part of one country, but with two governments.

But, in the mid-1990s, under Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui, the relationship worsened. Lee introduced rules restricting Taiwanese investment in China and refused to re-open direct air and shipping links to China, which have been banned since 1949. In 1999, Lee broke from the One China policy, saying the two sides were separate states, and should negotiate as such. Chinese soldiers The third major player in the relationship, the United States, endorses the One China policy and does not support Taiwanese independence. But the Taiwan Relations Act agreement between the US and Taiwan, signed in 1979, implies that America will provide Taiwan with defensive weapons and defend it against attack. Meanwhile, Taiwan continues to behave like an independent country, conducting its own foreign policy. It is not a member of the United Nations , but it has nearly 30 diplomatic allies, and every year requests admission to the world body. Nor has Taiwan neglected its military forces. Its air force now has 150 Lockheed F-16 fighter jets and 60 French-built Mirage 2000 fighters, along with 130 home-made IDF jets.

Enlisting in the military is mandatory for all Taiwanese young men, and over 300,000 soldiers serve full time in the military. The US is pushing for greater professionalism, and President George W. Bush has agreed to sell Taiwan weaponry that was previously off-limits, including diesel submarines. Finally, the two sides are still as far apart as ever, and it is difficult to see where they can compromise. For Taiwan, the purpose of negotiations is to stall indefinitely. For China, it is to reunify as quickly as possible. ---------- Cross-Strait Security Initiative | Center for Strategic and International Studies Connect Cross-Strait Security Initiative The purpose of this project is to serve as a repository for material to aid specialists and laymen alike in better understanding the many complexities and nuances of cross-Strait affairs. Welcome to the Taiwan Cross-Strait Website, created by the International Security Program (ISP) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). "Cross-Strait" refers to the Taiwan Strait, the body of water that separates the island of Taiwan and mainland China.

The purpose of this site is to serve as a repository for material to aid specialists and laymen alike in better understanding the many complexities and nuances of cross-Strait affairs. At issue is the sovereign status of Taiwan, to which the Chinese Nationalist government fled in 1949 during a bitter civil war with the communists under Mao Zedong. Today, after more than 50 years of Cold War tensions and tremendous changes on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan and the mainland remain de facto separate political entities and thus constitute a potential military flashpoint that not only threatens the well-being of the two societies but also threatens the stability of East Asia more broadly. Indeed at stake may well be conflict between two nuclear weapons states, the United States and China. Broad public understanding of this delicate and high-stakes issue is clearly critical, and forms the basis for this website. This website is a part of the ISP's Cross-Strait Security Initiative, which focuses on military balance issues, confidence building measures and changing social dynamics between China and Taiwan. The goal of this initiative is to increase understanding in the United States on the delicate and complex dynamics of cross-Strait affairs. Background & Overview —Background and broad summary of the cross-Strait issue.

Includes maps , statistics , and a glossary of relevant terms . Chronology —A comprehensive chronology of key events in the development of Taiwan and the current situation across the Taiwan Strait. Includes discussions and links to major official documents and policy statements of the U.S., China, and Taiwan over the past century. Policy & Perspectives —Discussions of policy stances of the United States, China, Taiwan and other governments concerning the cross-Strait issue. Strategic Balance —In-depth examination of prevailing trends in Chinese and Taiwan domestic affairs e.g. political, economic, social, and cultural developments, the military balance, and potential confidence building measures across the Taiwan Strait. Links —Links to other general resources regarding the Taiwan Cross-Strait issue. * The use of the terms China and Taiwan in this website is done for the sake of simplicity and clarity, and not to make a political statement or reflect any judgment on the question of Taiwan sovereignty. Exploring Chinese History :: East Asian Region :: Taiwan - Taiwan - Taiwan or T’aiwan, island in East Asia.

Taiwan is bordered on the west by the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from mainland China, on the north by the East China Sea, on the east by the Pacific Ocean, and on the south by the South China Sea. The government on Taiwan also administers the P’enghu Islands (Pescadores), the Chinmen Islands (Quemoy Islands) offshore from the mainland city of Xiamen, and the Matsu Islands offshore from Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian Province. The government that administers Taiwan calls itself the Republic of China. Leaders of the government moved to the island from the Chinese mainland in 1949, when Communist armies gained control of the mainland and established the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The government on Taiwan recognizes the mainland city of Nanjing (spelled Nanking in Taiwan) as its official capital, and designates Taiwan’s largest city of T’aipei as its temporary capital. The PRC does not recognize the government on Taiwan and considers the island a renegade province. Taiwan recognizes that the Communist government rules the Chinese mainland while the republican government rules Taiwan.

The total area of the islands administered by the government on Taiwan is about 36,000 sq km (about 13,900 sq mi). Taiwan Island accounts for about 98 percent of this. The island is shaped like a tobacco leaf, extending about 390 km (about 240 mi) from its stem in the south to its northern tip. At its widest east-west point, the island extends about 140 km (about 90 mi). P’enghu, the largest of the P’enghu Islands, constitutes approximately half the group’s total area of about 130 sq km (about 50 sq mi). The 12 small Chinmen Islands cover a total area of about 150 sq km (about 60 sq mi). The Matsu Islands, situated northwest of Taiwan Island outside the mouth of the Min River, consist of a small main island and several smaller islands. The main island has a total area of about 12 sq km (about 5 sq mi). Although administered by the government on Taiwan, the Matsu and Chinmen islands are officially part of Fujian province.

Located about 1,800 km (about 1,100 mi) southwest of Taiwan in the South China Sea, the Spratly Islands are claimed by Taiwan, mainland China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines. A contingent of Taiwan’s Marine Corps is stationed on Itu Aba (called T’aip’ing Island in Taiwan) at the center of the group. Taiwan Island’s most distinct land feature is its Chungyang Range, covering about half the total land area. The mountains extend over the island’s entire north-south length and reach a maximum elevation of 3,997 m (13,114 ft) at Yü Shan (Mount Jade). East of this central chain the land is rugged, terminating at precipitous cliffs that rise as high as 760 m (2,500 ft) from the Pacific Ocean. To the west, a broad, fertile plain and a series of connected basins slope gently to the shallow Taiwan Strait. All of Taiwan’s rivers originate in the mountains and have short, rapid courses. The Tanshui is the only navigable stream.

Taiwan’s longest river is the 186-km (116-mi) Choshui. It is also the most heavily tapped for hydroelectricity. Other rivers include the Taan, Tachia, Tatu, Kaop’ing, and Tsengwen. Among Taiwan’s lakes are Sun Moon Lake, a popular resort in the foothills of the Chungyang Range, and Coral Lake northeast of T’ainan. Taiwan has about 3,800 plant species. Between sea level and 2,000 m (6,500 ft), tropical and subtropical forests abound. Deciduous and coniferous trees grow in the mountains between 2,000 and 3,000 m (6,500 and 10,000 ft). Above this level only coniferous forests are found, mainly cypress. Animal life includes deer, wild boars, bears, monkeys, wildcats, panthers, and snakes. Taiwan’s most important natural resource is its land, one-quarter of which is suitable for cultivation. The Chungyang Range and the eastern coastal range contain deposits of gold and copper.

Coal is mined in the north near the Tatu River. Petroleum and natural gas reserves are located in the northwest near the small city of Hsinchu and the town of Miaoli. The eastern side of the island has marble deposits near the town of Hualien. Taiwan’s many river beds provide sand, gravel, and rock for the construction industry. Taiwan’s climate is described as tropical and subtropical, and rainfall is abundant. The average annual precipitation is about 4,000 mm (about 160 in). During winter, northern Taiwan experiences the northeast monsoon, which brings heavy rain from October to March. The north is somewhat less wet in summer, when southern Taiwan receives heavy precipitation from the southwest monsoon. Typhoons occur between June and October. Frost and snow appear only at high elevations in the Chungyang Range. Summers are hot and humid, with an average temperature of 28° C (82° F). Winter lasts from December until February and is mild, with an average January temperature of 18° C (64° F). Air pollution is severe in Taiwan’s major cities due to manufacturing activities and vehicle emissions, particularly exhaust from automobiles powered by leaded gasoline.

Deforestation is a growing concern because mountain hillsides are being cleared for commercial crops. The hunting of wild animals for their organs, which are used to make traditional Chinese medicines, is threatening wildlife. The government has made efforts to curb Taiwan’s environmental problems by enforcing stricter wildlife and forest-resource protection laws. In addition, the government prohibits newly manufactured automobiles that run on leaded gasoline. Taiwan’s estimated population in 1998 was 21,908,135, yielding an average population density of 609 persons per sq km (1,576 per sq mi). The population is unevenly distributed, however, as most people live on the plains and basins west of the Chungyang Range. T’aipei, Kaohsiung, and T’aichung are the three largest cities. Metropolitan T’aipei is the political, economic, cultural, and transportation center of Taiwan. Kaohsiung is the major industrial center in the south and Taiwan’s largest commercial port. T’aichung is the major industrial center of central Taiwan. In 1952 Taiwan’s birthrate was 46.6 births per 1,000 people.

By 1998 the birthrate had fallen to 14.8 per 1,000. Since the 1950s the level of education has risen in Taiwan; people are now more affluent and they tend to have fewer children. Most people in Taiwan are ethnic Han Chinese and were born on the mainland or have ancestors that were. They are divided into three groups based on their native Chinese dialect: Taiwanese (who speak Taiwanese, also called Min), Hakka (who speak Hakka, also called Kejia), and Mandarin. Min, Hakka, and Mandarin all belong to the Sino-Tibetan languages family. Taiwan also has a small population of aborigines who comprise about 2 percent of the total population. There are nine major aborigine tribes, each speaking a different form of Formosan, a member of the Austronesian languages family. Mandarin Chinese is Taiwan’s official language. Taiwan has 12 officially recognized religions, including Buddhism, Daoism (Taoism), Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam. Slightly more than half the people in Taiwan profess a faith; Buddhism has the most adherents, followed by Daoism.

In 1952 less than 60 percent of people over the age of 15 could read and write. Educational reforms in 1968 extended compulsory education to 9 years: Taiwan’s literacy rate climbed to 94 percent by 1994. Education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 15, when students complete junior high school. About 20 percent of junior high graduates pass the high school entrance exam and about two-thirds attend vocational schools. Taiwan has more than 100 colleges and universities, with a total attendance of more than 700,000 students. Major institutions of higher education include National Taiwan University, in T’aipei; National Central University, in Chungli; National Chunghsing University, in T’aichung; National Cheng Kung University, in T’ainan; and National Chung-shan University, in Kaohsiung. Most people in Taiwan have traditional values based on Confucian ethics, which include the principles of good conduct, practical wisdom, and proper social relationships.

Confucianism, however, developed in a largely rural society and people now confront the challenge of maintaining these values in Taiwan’s modern, industrialized society. Still, some traditional values are strong, including piety towards parents, ancestor worship, a strong emphasis on education and work, and the importance of "face," or maintaining one’s dignity in public. Other values are changing, especially in urban areas. Since industrialization, women enjoy greater freedom and a higher social status, individual creativity is regarded as equally important as social conformity, and acquiring material goods and fame is increasingly important. Housing is mostly urban, with the majority of people living in modern apartment buildings. People in Taiwan wear Western clothing. Traditional Chinese or aboriginal clothing is now worn only for certain festivals. Food choices vary greatly, with restaurants offering everything from American fast food and European cuisine to regional Chinese specialties. In their homes, most people serve traditional Chinese foods. Popular pastimes include singing with family or friends, watching television, mountain climbing, and world travel. In the mornings, many city residents perform t'ai chi ch'aun or other exercises in the parks. At night, young urbanites enjoy going to discos, bars, and restaurants.

Taiwan has some of the same social problems as other places with large urban populations, including organized crime, teenage prostitution, drug abuse, and juvenile delinquency. In addition, some tensions exist between social groups. The majority of people in Taiwan came from or have ancestors who came from mainland China before 1949. They are known as Taiwanese and enjoy the highest standard of living in Taiwan. Because of their wealth and numbers, they also have the greatest influence on economic and political issues. Mainlanders are people who arrived in Taiwan after mainland China fell to the Communists in 1949. Many Mainlanders work for the government. Tensions between Taiwanese and Mainlanders have eased substantially. The aborigines, who live mainly in rural villages, are the least privileged social group in Taiwan. Many ancient Chinese customs and holidays are still observed in Taiwan, including the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Chinese New Year, and the Feast of Lanterns. The birthday celebration of Chinese philosopher Confucius is held annually on September 28. It is known as National Teacher’s Day, and people observe it by performing traditional rituals at temples throughout Taiwan. Most people in big cities also celebrate Christmas, though not as a religious holiday.

The arts in Taiwan draw from a diverse heritage, encompassing aboriginal art, folk art, traditional fine arts, and modern art. Chinese calligraphy and traditional painting comprise the mainstream of traditional Chinese fine arts. Other art forms include sculpture, ceramics, cloisonné, jade carving, and flower arranging. Performing arts include Chinese opera, Taiwanese opera, and drama. Taiwan’s thriving film industry produces more than 100 movies annually; some receive international acclaim. The island’s largest libraries, both in T’aipei, are the National Central Library and the Taiwan Branch Library. There are also more than 15 public libraries located throughout Taiwan. Important museums include the National Palace Museum in T’aipei, which houses collections of traditional Chinese art; the National Museum of History in T’aipei, which exhibits mainly historical artifacts; and the Taiwan Provincial Museum in T’aipei, which displays collections from local cultures. After retreating from the mainland in 1949, the leaders of the government on Taiwan instituted land reforms that increased agricultural productivity. In the 1960s Taiwan adopted export-oriented policies, establishing export processing zones with incentives to attract direct foreign investment. Meanwhile, the government also pursued industrialization.

A strong manufacturing sector developed, with most products consisting of labor-intensive goods. During the 1980s the focus of manufacturing shifted to capital- and technology-intensive commodities, such as personal computers and machinery. In an effort to join the World Trade Organization, an international body that promotes and enforces trade laws, Taiwan’s government began liberalizing the economy in the 1990s by deregulating banking, finance, the stock market, investment, and trade. Taiwan’s economic policies have been extremely successful. In the mid-1990s per capita gross national product (GNP) was about $11,600, compared to $1,100 in the early 1950s (adjusted for inflation). Because its economy has achieved such rapid growth and it boasts one of the world’s highest standards of living, Taiwan is one of Asia’s "Four Tigers," along with Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea. Economists also classify Taiwan as a Newly Industrializing Economy (NIE), an imprecise term that sometimes includes the Four Tigers, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and China.

In the early 1990s Taiwan had a gross domestic product (GDP) of $216.5 billion. Taiwan had about 9 million people in the workforce in the early 1990s. About one-tenth of the people were employed in the primary sector, which includes agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining. The secondary economic sector, which involves processing or combining raw materials into new products, employed nearly two-fifths of the workforce. Tertiary activities, or service industries such as retail, banking, and government employment, employed nearly half of Taiwan’s working people. Services account for about 60 percent of GDP. The most important services are finance, insurance, and business services. Next in importance are wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels followed by government services. Tourism is significant, with 2.4 million tourists visiting Taiwan in 1997. The majority of tourists are Japanese, although many Southeast Asians, North Americans, and Europeans also visit Taiwan. Among the major tourist attractions are the National Palace Museum, Yangmingshan National Park, Sun Moon Lake, Mount Ali, Cheng Ching Lake, and Kenting National Park.

Manufacturing accounts for 37 percent of GDP. Chief manufactured products include chemicals, petrochemicals, electrical and electronic machinery, basic metals, paper products, and nonmetallic mineral products. The importance of labor-intensive products, such as garments, leather, fur, and bamboo and wood products, is declining. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing account for less than 4 percent of GDP. Taiwan’s chief agricultural areas are located on the island’s fertile western plains and basins. Rice is the principal food crop. Other major crops include sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, sugarcane, watermelons, pineapples, bananas, peanuts, mushrooms, tea, asparagus, and soybeans. Pigs, chickens, ducks, cattle, and goats are among the livestock raised. Approximately 55 percent of the land is forested, but timber production is insufficient to meet domestic demand. The main timbers are oak, cedar, hemlock, bamboo, and rattan. Onshore and deep-sea fishing yield about 80 percent of the total catch; the remainder comes from along the coast and from cultivated ponds. Mackerel and tuna are the leading marine species caught.

More than 90 percent of Taiwan’s energy must be imported. Most energy is derived from thermal plants, though nuclear power is also significant. The only domestic source of energy is hydroelectricity. Among the major hydroelectric facilities are those tapping the Choshui, Shimen, and Tahan rivers. Taiwan has a well-developed road and rail network. The majority of railroads and highways are concentrated along the western coast, plains, and basins of Taiwan Island, where the most people live. The principal ports are Hualien, Kaohsiung, Chilung, T’aichung, and Suao. Chiang Kai-shek International Airport near T’aipei is Taiwan’s largest airport, and southern Taiwan also has an international airport at Kaohsiung. China Airlines is the government-owned airline of Taiwan. In the early 1990s Taiwan had more than 175 radio stations. The three major television networks are Taiwan Television Enterprise (TTV), China Television Company (CTV), and Chinese Television System (CTS). Taiwan also has a noncommercial station, Chinese Public Television. Cable television offers additional programming.

There are more than 200 newspapers and more than 4,100 magazines published in Taiwan. The major newspapers are based in T’aipei and include the Chinese-language Central Daily News,China Times Express, and United Daily News. The two English dailies are China News and The China Post. Among the periodicals, the Chinese edition of the Reader’s Digest has the largest circulation. English or bilingual periodicals include Free China Review, Sinorama, Economic News, Taiwan International Trade, Trade Winds, and This Month in Taiwan. In 1996 Taiwan’s exports totaled US$115.7 billion; imports cost US$101.3 billion. Exports consistently exceed imports, giving Taiwan one of the world’s largest trade surpluses. The major exports are machinery, electrical and electronic products, and textiles. Taiwan’s largest export trading partner is the United States, followed by Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Malaysia, and South Korea. More than 70 percent of imports are agricultural and industrial raw materials used by Taiwan’s manufacturing industry to create finished products. Japan supplies the majority of imports, followed closely by the United States.

Taiwan’s trade with the Chinese mainland grew from about $78 million in 1979 to more than $9 billion in 1994, although Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs restricts trade with the mainland for the purpose of national security. In 1990 Taiwan applied for admission to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (now the World Trade Organization). Admission has been delayed, however, in part because mainland China opposes Taiwan receiving membership before the mainland is allowed to join. Although Taiwan is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), a trade organization of the Pacific Rim, Taiwan’s president was denied participation in APEC’s highest ranking meetings due to opposition from mainland China, which is also a member. Taiwan’s basic unit of currency is the New Taiwan dollar (32.334 New Taiwan dollars equal U.S.$1; January 1999). The bank of issue is the Bank of Taiwan. While Taiwan has permitted private banking since the 1990s, most banks remain government owned or controlled.

The current constitution of the government on Taiwan was adopted during the Chinese civil war in 1947, two years before the leaders of the government retreated to the island from the mainland. A series of additional articles became effective in 1991, 1992, 1994, and 1997. Among the most significant changes was the 1994 adoption of presidential elections by popular vote. Voting is universal for all citizens age 20 or older. The president is the head of state and represents Taiwan in its foreign relations and at state functions. Formerly, the president was elected by the National Assembly to a six-year term. Constitutional amendments reduced the presidential term to four years and called for direct elections by popular vote. The first popularly elected president took office in 1996. The 316-member National Assembly has the power to impeach the president and vice president and amend the constitution. Members of the National Assembly serve four-year terms. They are elected under a mixed system of direct election and proportional representation.

In addition to the president and National Assembly, Taiwan’s government contains five yuan, or branches of government: the Executive Yuan, the Legislative Yuan, the Control Yuan, the Examination Yuan, and the Judicial Yuan. The Executive Yuan, the government body responsible for making and implementing government policy, is the highest administrative branch. The president appoints a premier and other ministers and members of the Executive Yuan. The Legislative Yuan exercises legislative power on behalf of the people, examines the budget, and audits reports submitted by the Executive Yuan. The 225 members of the Legislative Yuan are elected under a mixed system of direct election and proportional representation. All members serve three-year terms. The Control Yuan exercises powers of consent, impeachment, censure, and audit. It is responsible for finding and removing corrupt officials at all levels of government. The 29 members are appointed by the president with the consent of the National Assembly. The 21-member Examination Yuan handles the examination, employment, and management of all Taiwan’s civil servants, including all elected and appointed government officials. Members of the Examination Yuan are appointed by the president with the consent of the National Assembly to six-year terms.

The Judicial Yuan runs Taiwan’s court system and is responsible for civil, criminal, and administrative cases, as well as cases concerning the disciplining of public officials. The Judicial Yuan consists of a president, a vice president, and a 15-member Council of Grand Justices. Below the Judicial Yuan are the Supreme Court, the high courts, the district courts, the Administrative Court, and the Committee on the Discipline of Public Functionaries. Taiwan has three major political parties, the Kuomintang (KMT) party, the Democratic Progressive Party, and the New Party. The KMT is Taiwan’s ruling party and has a membership of 2.6 million. In the 1996 legislative elections the KMT received 55 percent of the vote. The KMT approach to government is based on Sun Yat-sen’s Three Principles of the People, which are nationalism, democracy, and social well being. Until Taiwan lifted martial law in 1987, opposition parties had little political influence. Starting in the late 1970s an informal organization known as the Outsiders Party attempted to present unified platforms and nominated candidates for elections.

In 1986 some members of the Outsiders Party established the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which became the first influential opposition party in Taiwan. Although originally founded as a pro-independence party, the DPP has since softened its stance on complete independence for Taiwan. In the 1996 elections, the DPP received 30 percent of the popular vote. The New Party received about 15 percent of the popular vote in the 1996 elections. Its leadership contains several young politicians and scholars who left the KMT. In 1995 Taiwan launched a government-funded health insurance program. Medical resources increased and rural facilities were upgraded. Taiwan’s highest public health authority is the Department of Health under the Executive Yuan. The department determines health policies and coordinates health services at all levels. Among the major health programs are prenatal and postnatal care, prevention of cancer, and the control of communicable diseases. The president serves as commander-in-chief. The Ministry of National Defense, headed by a civilian, is responsible for overseeing the administrative affairs of the military. Equipped with modern weapons, aircraft, and ships, Taiwan’s military includes an army, navy, air force, and logistical command called the Combined Services Force.

In 1997 military personnel totaled 376,000. Beginning at the age of 18, all able men must serve two years in the armed forces, although they may delay conscription if attending school. Archaeological evidence consisting of primitive utensils indicates Taiwan was inhabited by humans as far back as 10,000 years ago. Bands of Japanese are said to have conquered portions of the island in the 12th century, and from the 15th century onward Japan regarded the eastern half of Taiwan as its possession. In 1590 the Portuguese became the first known Europeans to visit the island, which they called Formosa (Portuguese for "beautiful"). Subsequently, the Spanish attempted to found permanent settlements, but were thwarted by the Dutch, who succeeded in taking possession of the P’enghu Islands in 1622. Three years later the Dutch established forts on the southeastern coast of Taiwan. In 1644 the Manchus of northeastern China defeated the Ming dynasty and established the Qing dynasty.

Meanwhile, a group of Ming followers led by Cheng Ch’eng-kung, known in the West as Koxinga, drove the Dutch from Taiwan and occupied the island’s southwestern portion. Cheng established a formal Chinese government, ruling Taiwan as a Ming enclave. It wasn’t until 1683 that the island finally fell to Qing rule. Thereafter, immigration to Taiwan from mainland China increased greatly. As a result of Britain’s victory against China in the Opium Wars and the ratification of the Treaty of Tientsin in 1860, two ports on Taiwan’s western coast opened to foreign ships. Roman Catholic and Protestant missions were established on the island soon after. During the Sino-French War of 1884 and 1885 the French imposed a partial blockade against Taiwan. The Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895 terminated the first Sino-Japanese War and required that China cede Taiwan and the P’enghu Islands to Japan. However, the Chinese inhabitants of Taiwan refused to submit and instigated a rebellion that was put down by the Japanese.

For the next 50 years a stringent occupation and colonization followed, including a rigorous effort at Japanization—the attempt to replace Chinese culture and tradition with that of the Japanese. With the defeat of Japan in 1945, Taiwan and the P’enghu Islands were returned to China, but corrupt Chinese government authorities caused widespread resentment on the island. The unrest resulted in an uprising in February 1947. It was quickly suppressed with serious loss of life, and two months later Taiwan was proclaimed a province of China. Meanwhile, China was enmeshed in a civil war between Communist forces led by Mao Zedong and the Kuomintang (KMT) led by Chiang Kai-shek, who had assumed leadership of the party in the mid-1920s after the death of KMT founder Sun Yat-sen. With mainland China falling to the Communists, Chiang moved the KMT government from Nanjing to T’aipei on December 8, 1949. Communist plans to invade Taiwan were subsequently frustrated by the United States, which in 1950 sent naval forces to defend the island.

For the remainder of the 1950s, despite sporadic hostilities between Taiwan and the mainland, the United States Seventh Fleet shielded the KMT government from a Communist invasion. In March 1954 Chiang Kai-shek was reelected president of the Republic of China (as his Taiwan government continued to call itself). Later that year the KMT and the United States signed a mutual-defense treaty, by which the United States agreed conditionally to take punitive action against the Chinese mainland if the Communist regime attacked Taiwan. During this time the United States also extended massive economic and military aid to Taiwan, enabling it to build its economy despite a great investment in military defense. By the mid-1960s, when such aid was ended, more than US$4 billion had flowed into Taiwan’s economy. In that time industrial production was estimated to have risen by 300 percent; in addition, exports tripled and imports doubled. Of greater significance, however, was that the island had become a showcase of modern economic development, with a growth rate far above that of most other Asian economies. Throughout the 1960s Taiwan experienced few changes in its international status or internal government.

The National Assembly reelected Chiang Kai-shek president in 1960 and 1966, broadening his powers in 1966. Taiwan still enjoyed wide diplomatic recognition throughout the world, and its foreign trade boomed. Gradually, however, countries began shifting their formal relations to the People’s Republic of China on the mainland. Diplomatic relations with France, for example, broke off in 1964. In the early 1970s Taiwan’s international situation changed radically. The decision by the United States government to seek contact with the Communist government in Beijing, on the mainland, led to Taiwan's expulsion from the United Nations in 1971, and China's seat was given to the Communist government. Many nations transferred their diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing. In 1972 United States president Richard Nixon visited Beijing, and the United States opened a liaison office on mainland China. In the wake of these developments, many other nations transferred their diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the mainland Communist government.

Then, in 1979, the United States formalized relations with mainland China and ended formal diplomatic ties to Taiwan, although trade relations and informal communications between Taiwan and the United States continued. In January 1980 the United States-Taiwan defense treaty of 1954 lapsed. By 1981 relatively few nations maintained formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but the island’s international trade suffered little damage. Chiang Kai-shek was elected to his fifth term as president in 1972. Three years later, embittered by U.S. abandonment, he died and was succeeded by Vice President Yen Chia-kan. Chiang’s eldest son, Chiang Ching-kuo, who had been premier of Taiwan since 1972, continued in that office and assumed leadership of the KMT party. He was elected to the presidency in 1978 and reelected in 1984. In the late 1970s and the 1980s Taiwan’s economy continued to expand. Trade contacts with Western Europe increased, and the government rejected offers of reconciliation that came from Beijing.

Martial law, in effect since 1949, was finally lifted in July 1987. Chiang Ching-kuo died in January 1988 and was succeeded by Vice President Lee Teng-hui, who became the first native Taiwanese to assume the presidency. Lee was elected to a full six-year term in 1990 and reelected to a four-year term in 1996. In 1991 Taiwan formulated a plan to restructure the government, and a long-term, three-phase plan for reunification with mainland China was introduced. In April 1993 representatives from Taiwan and China met in Singapore to discuss the relationship between China and Taiwan and establish a schedule for subsequent meetings between the two governments. The Singapore meeting was the first high-level contact between China and Taiwan since 1949. Relations between Taiwan and China deteriorated in 1995 and early 1996 as China performed military exercises near Taiwan. Observers believed the maneuvers were intended to intimidate supporters of pro-independence candidates in Taiwan’s presidential election.

Contributed By: Taiwan 'accidentally' fires missile; 1 dead, East Asia News & Top Stories - The Straits Times The Straits Times ePaper Taiwan 'accidentally' fires missile; 1 dead Taiwanese Coast Guards stand next to a damaged fishing boat in southern Tainan in this photo released by Taiwan's Central News Agency on July 1. PHOTO: AFP Published Jermyn Chow Taiwan Correspondent In Taipei An anti-ship missile that Taiwan's navy said was fired "accidentally" killed the captain of a Taiwanese fishing boat, in an incident that could potentially raise tensions with Beijing. Yesterday's fatal blunder in the Taiwan Strait came just as Beijing was marking the 95th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party. Relations between Taiwan and China have deteriorated since pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen took office in May. Beijing last week said it had suspended official communications with Taipei. China's top official for cross- strait affairs Zhang Zhijun yesterday warned that the missile incident would have serious consequences. "We need Taiwan to take responsibility and explain how this could have happened," he was quoted by Taiwanese media as saying.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said it notified Beijing of the incident through a quasi-official body, Agence France-Presse reported. In the incident, a Hsiung-feng III missile fired from a naval warship, docked at Kaohsiung's Zuoying naval base, landed 75km away in the waters off Penghu island. It hit the fishing boat, killing the captain and injuring two crew members. Vice-Admiral Mei Chia-shu stressed that the missile was not aimed at Fujian province, which faces Taiwan, adding that initial investigations showed human error could be the cause. He said a missile operator was running checks on the missile system during a sea drill inspection at the naval base when he "accidentally launched" the missile. China's Hopes For Bridging The Taiwan Strait China's Hopes For Bridging The Taiwan Strait {{article.article.images.featured.caption}} Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Full Bio The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer. Loading ... This story appears in the {{article.article.magazine.pretty_date}} issue of {{article.article.magazine.pubName}}.

Subscribe Map of the Taiwan Strait (Photo credit: Wikipedia) More than six decades after Taiwan's estrangement from mainland China, the Taiwan Strait still represents the most physically formidable and symbolically inaccessible barrier to Beijing's objective of eventual reunification with the island. Over the course of its history, Taiwan switched hands from European and Japanese colonial occupiers before becoming the prospective battleground between China and Taiwan in the second half of the 20th century. In recent years, military tensions between China and Taiwan have eased, and Beijing hopes that enhanced economic integration and the physical infrastructure it wants to build one day across the Taiwan Strait could bring the country a step closer to fulfilling a core geopolitical imperative by reuniting with the island. The South China Morning Post reported Aug. 5 that in its recently approved National Highway Network Plan for 2013-2030, the State Council included two highway projects linking Taiwan to the mainland. One involves the long-proposed Beijing-Taipei Expressway, which would start in Beijing and pass through Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang and Fujian's Fuzhou before crossing the strait and reaching Taipei.

Another inland route would start in Chengdu and pass through Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi and Fujian's Xiamen, and cross the Taipei-administered Kinmen archipelago before eventually ending at Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan. The plan does not specify what kind of infrastructure -- a bridge or a tunnel, for example -- would be used to connect the mainland to Taiwan over the 180-kilometer (111-mile) strait, but since 1996, if not earlier, Beijing has publicly called for such infrastructure to be built. One proposal involved a 122-kilometer undersea tunnel, which was deemed preferable because of its relative seismic stability and its location in shallower water. This tunnel would connect Fujian province's Pingtan Island to Hsinchu in northern Taiwan -- a distance nearly three times that of Channel Tunnel, which connects the United Kingdom and France -- and would cost an estimated 400 billion-500 billion yuan ($65 billion-$81 billion) to build.

Another proposal involves linking Taiwan's southern Chiayi county to the outlying island of Kinmen via tunnel or bridge, where it would connect with envisaged infrastructure that would eventually link it to Xiamen, Fujian province. Besides the massive economic costs associated with building a bridge or tunnel across the Taiwan Strait, security concerns, geologic vulnerabilities (due to earthquakes) and the sheer width of the strait present technical challenges to its construction. Even if the infrastructure were built, it is not clear that they would be economically justifiable given that airliners and ships are now allowed to travel across the strait frequently. For decades, China and Taiwan had no official interaction at all, and infrastructure linking the two was something only Beijing wanted. Taipei viewed any bridge or tunnel link as a potential security liability, since it could enable easier access to the island by mainland military forces in times of crisis. While tensions have thawed in recent years, talks between the two sides still only involve economic and cultural issues, not political issues. Combined with logistical challenges, the absence of direct relations between the two makes it extremely unlikely that the infrastructure will built any time soon.

Though a bridge or tunnel link remains largely illusory, Beijing's hope to bridge the gap -- both physically and symbolically -- across the Taiwan Strait was brought a bit closer to reality in early July, when Beijing and Taipei finalized a plan to supply water from the mainland to Kinmen, an outlying Taiwanese island less than 3 kilometers from the coast at Fujian. Under the plan, which was long opposed by Taipei and took 10 years of negotiations to resolve, water would be sent from Fujian province to Kinmen at its narrowest point. To alleviate the island's lingering water shortage, two possible pipeline routes were proposed, one involving a 26.8-kilometer pipeline directing water from Jinji reservoir in Fujian's Jinjiang to Kinmen, and one involving a 30 kilometer-long pipeline, nearly 9 kilometers of which would be undersea, connecting the Jiulong River in Xiamen and the city's Tingxi reservoir. (The latter was the preferred route.) This water pipeline would be the first cross-strait infrastructure link. Significantly, China has pursued the project even though Fujian province itself is suffering from a lingering water shortage, making clear how strategically important Beijing views a physical link with Taiwan.

During negotiations, discussions resurfaced of constructing a bridge between Kinmen and Xiamen. Compared to the much more ambitious proposal to link the mainland to Taiwan via bridge or tunnel, the pipeline with Kinmen is not in itself very significant. However, it does offer an example of Beijing sacrificing what is superficially pragmatic for the sake of its strategic goals. In particular, Kinmen had once been the leading military frontier until the end of cross-strait military standoff in 1992, and Beijing believes that assisting the island can offer an example of cross-strait integration. Beijing also believes it could allow more Taiwanese residents to benefit from growing economic interaction with China without undermining Taipei's political independence. Symbolic Steps Warming cross-strait ties have coincided, and indeed complemented, China's attempt to project economic influence externally , including with Taiwan. Coupled with Beijing's vastly superior military capabilities , the economic incentives for cross-strait cooperation have formed the backbone of its less overtly aggressive stance toward the island in the past decade.

While reunification remains the ultimate goal, it has been widely acknowledged among Beijing's political elites that, as long as the possibility of peaceful reunification remains, there is little urgency or strategic necessity in forcing a final resolution unless a serious crisis emerges between Taiwan and China. Instead, Beijing is focusing on a more conciliatory approach to reinforce the concept of interdependence and prevent Taiwan from distancing itself from the mainland economically and politically. At least for now, Taipei appears to have reconciled this approach with its own so-called "economic first, politics later" strategy toward the mainland. This strategy allows it to benefit from economic cooperation with China and create a relatively calm environment that would benefit Taipei's development without threatening its independent identity . Beijing's emphasis on interdependence has some merit, too. Over the years, China has benefited from easing restrictions on commerce and cultural exchanges with Taiwan, along with Taiwanese investment that has helped it upgrade its industrial sector. A less hostile government in Taipei has also been important for Beijing's political legitimacy internationally. Moreover, China allowed a much more open market and more preferential trade and investment policies to Taiwan than the island nation would find elsewhere.

Currently, trade with China and Hong Kong accounts for nearly a third of Taiwan's economy, in part helping the island avoid further decline amid the global slowdown. Since reunification is always going to be an imperative for Beijing until it actually takes place, the proposed infrastructure is an important step symbolically for its integration strategy. Trade patterns can change rapidly, and interests there can shift -- especially now that the Chinese economy itself is undergoing massive internal changes . Consequently, a pipeline or tunnel may not be especially important in themselves and may even be unrealistic and impractical, but taken with the other developments, they point to a new type of strategic thinking in Beijing. Milestones: 1953–1960 - Office of the Historian Milestones: 1953–1960 The Taiwan Straits Crises: 1954–55 and 1958 Tensions between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC) in the 1950s resulted in armed conflict over strategic islands in the Taiwan Strait. On two separate occasions during the 1950s, the PRC bombed islands controlled by the ROC.

The United States responded by actively intervening on behalf of the ROC. Map of the Taiwan Strait The importance of the islands in the Taiwan Strait was rooted in their geographic proximity to China and Taiwan and their role in the Chinese Civil War. Jinmen (Quemoy), two miles from the mainland Chinese city of Xiamen, and Mazu, ten miles from the city of Fuzhou, are located approximately one hundred miles west of Taiwan. When the Nationalist Government of the ROC under Chiang Kai-shek recognized that it had lost control of mainland China during the Chinese Civil War, the officials and part of the Nationalist Army fled to the island of Taiwan, establishing troops on these two islands and the Dachen Islands further north. In the early 1950s, Chiang’s forces launched minor attacks from Jinmen and Mazu against the coast of mainland China. Leadership on both sides of the strait continued to view the islands as a potential launching pad for an ROC invasion to retake the Chinese mainland and had an interest in controlling the islands. U.S. policy toward East Asia in the early Cold War contributed to the tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

In late 1949 and early 1950, American officials were prepared to let PRC forces cross the Strait and defeat Chiang, but after the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, the United States sent its Seventh Fleet into the Taiwan Strait to prevent the Korean conflict from spreading south. The appearance of the Seventh Fleet angered the Chinese Communists, who transferred their troops poised for an invasion of Taiwan to the Korean front. This served to delay military conflict in the Strait until the United States withdrew its fleet after the Korean War. Over the next few years, the U.S. Government took steps that allied it more firmly to the ROC Government on Taiwan. In 1954, the United States led the creation of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization , which was designed to unify the region against the perceived Communist threat. Moreover, U.S. officials openly debated the possibility of signing a Mutual Defense Treaty with Chiang Kai-shek. The PRC viewed these developments as threats to its national security and regional leadership.

In the interest of bolstering its strategic position in the Taiwan Strait, the PRC began to bombard Jinmen in September 1954, and soon expanded its targets to include Mazu and the Dachen Islands. U.S. policymakers considered sending part of the U.S. fleet into the Strait. Discussions centered on whether this maneuver would reopen the Chinese Civil War and, if so, what effect that would have on U.S. security concerns in the region. U.S. policymakers did not want to be drawn into the conflict, but wanted the ROC to maintain control of the islands. The loss of Jinmen and Mazu to the People’s Republic might mean an irreparable blow to Nationalist Army morale and the legitimacy of the ROC regime on Taiwan. To assert its continued support of that regime, the United States signed the Mutual Defense Treaty with the ROC. Although the treaty did not commit the United States to defending the off-shore islands, it promised support if the ROC engaged in a broader conflict with the PRC. Zhou Enlai The situation in the Strait deteriorated in late 1954 and early 1955, prompting the U.S. Government to act.

In January 1955, the U.S. Congress passed the “Formosa Resolution,” which gave President Eisenhower total authority to defend Taiwan and the off-shore islands. The U.S. Government then announced its determination to defend Taiwan against communist attack, although it did not specify the territory included within its defensive perimeter. In exchange for a private promise to defend Jinmen and Mazu, however, Chiang Kai-shek agreed to withdraw his troops from Dachen, which was strategically ambiguous and difficult to defend. The Eisenhower Administration considered many options, ranging from convincing Chiang Kai-shek to give up the islands to employing nuclear weapons against the PRC. Before any of these options became necessary, at the Afro-Asian Conference in April 1955 in Bandung PRC Foreign Minister Zhou Enlai announced a desire to negotiate with the United States. The PRC’s sudden shift could have stemmed from pressure from the Soviet Union to ease tensions, concern about the very real possibility of war with the United States, or changes in internal politics. In September, 1955, the PRC and the United States began talks at Geneva to address the issue of repatriation of nationals, but also to discuss preventing the escalation of future conflicts.

Although there were good reasons for the PRC to stand down in 1955, it resumed its bombardment of Jinmen and Mazu in 1958. This time, the PRC took advantage of the fact that international attention was focused on U.S. intervention in Lebanon and barred ROC efforts to re-supply garrisons on the off-shore islands. The PRC also wanted to protest continued U.S. support of the ROC regime. Once again, President Eisenhower was concerned that the loss of the islands would hurt Nationalist morale and might be a precursor to the Communist conquest of Taiwan. The United States thus arranged to re-supply ROC garrisons on Jinmen and Mazu. This brought an abrupt end to the bombardment and eased the crisis. Eventually, the PRC and ROC came to an arrangement in which they shelled each other’s garrisons on alternate days. This continued for twenty years until the PRC and the United States normalized relations.

Question: Which strait separates Taiwan from mainland China?
Answer: Strait of Formosa