As Taiwan was located at the conjunction of the East Asia and the oceans, as well as being where the Northeast Asian waters meet the Southeast waters, it became the focus of Asian and the Western powers that were operating in the East Asian waters at the time.
In the first half of the 17th Century, the Dutch established a presence at Anping (modern day Tainan). There they conducted missionary activities, trade and the production of various goods. They also recruited many Han settlers from the coast of China, ushering in the multicultural history of Taiwan. The number of Han Chinese immigrants in Taiwan steadily increased during the short-lived Cheng regime and Qing period over the next 200 years, creating a primarily Han society in Taiwan.
In the late 19th century, the wave of imperialism touched the shores of Taiwan. The island became a colony of Japan and would remain under Japanese rule for 50 years, during which time it evolved from a traditional society into a modern society. At the end of World War II in 1945, Taiwan was liberated from colonial rule. Since then, the island has experienced an economic miracle and introduced political democracy—two achievements that have attracted the world’s attention.
Today, Taiwan boasts an excellent infrastructure, convenient transportation system, and high-quality communication services. It also has accomplished, in the face of several international energy crises and economic downturns, a remarkable record of economic development and political democracy by virtue of the perseverance and unremitting efforts of the people of Taiwan.
Source: Tourism Bureau, Republic of China (Taiwan).
