Taiwan
has created a unique history of its own and it is a history that
continues to attract the world's attention. Before the 17th century,
Taiwan's society had its early beginnings with mixed cultures. It can be
said that Taiwan was practicing the concept of multiculturalism. Early
settlers were thought to be Austronesians, who arrived on the shores of
Taiwan and mixed with Taiwan's indigenous peoples. To date there
continues to be much discussion about the possible theories concerning
where these early people came from. However, these are still open to
debate.
During the 16th century, many traders from Japan would stop at the
Taiwan's ports of Keelung, Tamsui or An-p'ing. These ports were
especially popular because Taiwan was not under the jurisdiction of any
country, which made trading conditions ideal for 'free trade' to take
place. However, this would soon end with the arrival of the Dutch. Upon
landing, along the northern shores of Taiwan, the Dutch encountered
Spanish settlers from Manila, who were eventually driven out by the
Dutch by 1642.
In 1895, after the Sino-Japanese War, Taiwan was ceded to Japan and
became a Japanese colony for fifty years. Taiwan was re-established as a
province in 1945, following its retrocession to China. In 1949, the
Republic of China's government relocated from China to Taiwan, when the
Chinese Communist Party established the People's Republic of China (PRC)
on the mainland.
Since the founding of the Republic of China in 1912, it has become
Asia's first constitutional republic. Taiwan is officially known as the
Republic of China (ROC). The ROC government has legal authority over the
islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and numerous other islets.
Taiwan's population is 23 million people. Of these 360,000 are
indigenous people representing the 12 tribes of the Saisiyat, the Atayal,
the Amis, the Bunun, the Puyuma, the Rukai, the Paiwan, the Tao, the
Sao, the Taroko, the Kemalan and the Zou.
As Taiwan continues to research its own rich culture, while continuing
to preserve its past, it cordially invites visitors to discover for
themselves the true beauty of this truly beautiful land.