--- title: Taiwan — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 2 description: Wikipedia's «Taiwan», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Taiwan # Taiwan · page 2 From Wikipedia, [«Taiwan»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/) **2** [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/6/) [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/7/) Following the fall of the Ming dynasty in Beijing in 1644, [Koxinga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koxinga) (Zheng Chenggong) pledged allegiance to the [Yongli Emperor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yongli_Emperor) and attacked the Qing dynasty along the southeastern coast of China.[\[122\]](../../page/7/#ref-122 "note 122")[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1661, under increasing Qing pressure, he moved his forces from his base in [Xiamen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiamen) to Taiwan, [expelling the Dutch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Fort_Zeelandia) the following year.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") The Dutch retook the northern fortress at Keelung in 1664, but left the island in 1668 in the face of indigenous resistance.[\[123\]](../../page/7/#ref-123 "note 123")[\[124\]](../../page/7/#ref-124 "note 124")[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") The Zheng regime, known as the [Kingdom of Tungning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Tungning), proclaimed its loyalty to the overthrown Ming, but ruled independently.[\[125\]](../../page/7/#ref-125 "note 125")[\[126\]](../../page/7/#ref-126 "note 126")[\[127\]](../../page/7/#ref-127 "note 127")[\[128\]](../../page/7/#ref-128 "note 128")[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") However, [Zheng Jing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_Jing)'s return to China to participate in the [Revolt of the Three Feudatories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolt_of_the_Three_Feudatories) paved the way for the Qing invasion and occupation of Taiwan in 1683.[\[129\]](../../page/7/#ref-129 "note 129")[\[130\]](../../page/7/#ref-130 "note 130")[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Qing rule (1683–1895) Main article: [Taiwan under Qing rule](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_under_Qing_rule) Following the defeat of [Koxinga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koxinga)'s grandson by an armada led by Admiral [Shi Lang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi_Lang) in 1683, the Qing dynasty formally annexed Taiwan in May 1684, making it a [prefecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_prefecture) of Fujian province while retaining its administrative seat (now Tainan) under Koxinga as the capital.[\[131\]](../../page/7/#ref-131 "note 131")[\[132\]](../../page/7/#ref-132 "note 132")[\[133\]](../../page/7/#ref-133 "note 133")[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") The Qing government generally tried to restrict migration to Taiwan throughout the duration of its administration because it believed that Taiwan could not sustain too large a population without leading to conflict.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") After the defeat of the Kingdom of Tungning, most of its population in Taiwan was sent back to the mainland, leaving the official population count at only 50,000, including 10,000 troops.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Despite official restrictions, officials in Taiwan solicited settlers from the mainland, causing tens of thousands of annual arrivals by 1711.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") A permit system was officially recorded in 1712, but it likely existed as early as 1684; its restrictions included only allowing those to enter who had property on the mainland, family in Taiwan, and who were not accompanied by wives or children.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") Many of the first male migrants married local Indigenous women.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Over the 18th century, restrictions were relaxed as the Qing realized that they were unenforceable.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1732, families were allowed to move to Taiwan.[\[134\]](../../page/7/#ref-134 "note 134")[\[135\]](../../page/7/#ref-135 "note 135")[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") By 1811, there were more than two million Han settlers in Taiwan, and profitable sugar and rice production industries provided exports to the mainland.[\[136\]](../../page/7/#ref-136 "note 136")[\[137\]](../../page/7/#ref-137 "note 137")[\[138\]](../../page/7/#ref-138 "note 138")[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1875, restrictions on entering Taiwan were repealed.[\[139\]](../../page/7/#ref-139 "note 139")[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Three counties nominally covered the entire western plains, but actual control was restricted to a smaller area.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") A government permit was required for settlers to go beyond the [Dajia River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dajia_River).[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") Qing administration expanded across the western plains area over the 18th century due to continued illegal crossings and settlement.[\[140\]](../../page/7/#ref-140 "note 140")[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") The Taiwanese Indigenous peoples were categorized by the Qing administration into acculturated aborigines who had adopted Han culture and non-acculturated aborigines who had not.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") The Qing did little to administer or subjugate them.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") When Taiwan was annexed, there were 46 aboriginal villages under its control, likely inherited from the Kingdom of Tungning.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") During the early [Qianlong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qianlong_Emperor) period there were 93 acculturated villages and 61 non-acculturated villages that paid taxes.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") In response to the [Zhu Yigui](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhu_Yigui) settler rebellion in 1722, separation of aboriginals and settlers became official policy via 54 stelae used to mark the frontier boundary.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") The markings were changed four times over the latter half of the 18th century due to continued settler encroachment.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") Two aboriginal affairs sub-prefects, one for the north and one for the south, were appointed in 1766.[\[141\]](../../page/7/#ref-141 "note 141")[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") During the 200 years of Qing rule in Taiwan, the [Plains Indigenous peoples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plains_Indigenous_peoples) rarely rebelled against the government and the mountain Indigenous peoples were left to their own devices until the last 20 years of Qing rule.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") Most of the more than 100 rebellions during the Qing period, such as the [Lin Shuangwen rebellion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lin_Shuangwen_rebellion), were caused by Han settlers.[\[142\]](../../page/7/#ref-142 "note 142")[\[143\]](../../page/7/#ref-143 "note 143")[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") Their frequency was evoked by the common saying "every three years an uprising, every five years a rebellion" (三年一反、五年一亂), primarily in reference to the period between 1820 and 1850.[\[144\]](../../page/7/#ref-144 "note 144")[\[145\]](../../page/7/#ref-145 "note 145")[\[146\]](../../page/7/#ref-146 "note 146")[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") Many officials stationed in Taiwan called for an active colonization policy over the 19th century.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1788, Taiwan Prefect Yang Tingli supported the efforts of a settler named Wu Sha to claim land held by the [Kavalan people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kavalan_people).[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1797, Wu Sha was able to recruit settlers with financial support from the local government but was unable to officially register the land.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") In the early 1800s, local officials convinced the emperor to officially incorporate the area by playing up the issue of piracy if the land was left alone.[\[147\]](../../page/7/#ref-147 "note 147")[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1814, some settlers attempted to colonize central Taiwan by fabricating rights to lease aboriginal land.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") They were evicted by government troops two years later.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") Local officials continued to advocate for the colonization of the area but were ignored.[\[148\]](../../page/7/#ref-148 "note 148")[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") The Qing took on a more active colonization policy after 1874 when Japan [invaded Indigenous territory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudan_Incident) in southern Taiwan and the Qing government was forced to pay an indemnity for them to leave.[\[149\]](../../page/7/#ref-149 "note 149")[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") The administration of Taiwan was expanded with new prefectures, sub-prefectures, and counties.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Mountain roads were constructed to make inner Taiwan more accessible.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") Restrictions on entering Taiwan were ended in 1875 and agencies for recruiting settlers were established on the mainland, but efforts to promote settlement ended soon after.[\[150\]](../../page/7/#ref-150 "note 150")[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1884, [Keelung](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keelung) in northern Taiwan was occupied during the [Sino-French War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-French_War) but the French forces failed to advance any further inland while their victory at Penghu in 1885 resulted in disease and retreat soon afterward as the war ended.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") Colonization efforts were renewed under [Liu Mingchuan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Mingchuan).[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1887, Taiwan's status was upgraded to a [province](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_%28Republic_of_China_province%29).[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") [Taipei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei) [corpus](../../../Taipei/ "in our corpus") became the permanent capital in 1893.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") Liu's efforts to increase revenues on Taiwan's produce were hampered by foreign pressure not to increase levies.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") A land reform was implemented, increasing revenue which still fell short of expectation.[\[151\]](../../page/7/#ref-151 "note 151")[\[152\]](../../page/7/#ref-152 "note 152")[\[153\]](../../page/7/#ref-153 "note 153")[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") Modern technologies such as electric lighting, a railway, telegraph lines, steamship service, and industrial machinery were introduced under Liu's governance, but several of these projects had mixed results.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") A campaign to formally subjugate the Indigenous peoples ended with the loss of a third of the army after fierce resistance from the Mkgogan and Msbtunux peoples.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") Liu resigned in 1891 due to criticism of these costly projects.[\[154\]](../../page/7/#ref-154 "note 154")[\[155\]](../../page/7/#ref-155 "note 155")[\[131\]](../../page/7/#ref-131 "note 131")[\[156\]](../../page/7/#ref-156 "note 156")[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") By the end of the Qing period, the western plains were fully developed as farmland with about 2.5 million Chinese settlers.[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") The mountainous areas were still largely autonomous under the control of Indigenous peoples.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") Indigenous land loss under the Qing occurred at a relatively slow pace due to the absence of state-sponsored land deprivation for the majority of Qing rule.[\[157\]](../../page/7/#ref-157 "note 157")[\[158\]](../../page/7/#ref-158 "note 158")[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Japanese rule (1895–1945) Main article: [Taiwan under Japanese rule](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_under_Japanese_rule) Following the Qing defeat in the [First Sino-Japanese War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Sino-Japanese_War) (1894–1895), Taiwan, its associated islands, and the Penghu archipelago were ceded to [Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Japan) by the [Treaty of Shimonoseki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Shimonoseki).[\[159\]](../../page/7/#ref-159 "note 159")[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") Inhabitants wishing to remain Qing subjects had to move to mainland China within a two-year grace period, which few saw as feasible.[\[160\]](../../page/7/#ref-160 "note 160")[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") Estimates say around 4,000 to 6,000 departed before the expiration of the grace period, and 200,000 to 300,000 followed during the subsequent disorder.[\[161\]](../../page/7/#ref-161 "note 161")[\[137\]](../../page/7/#ref-137 "note 137")[\[162\]](../../page/7/#ref-162 "note 162")[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") On 25 May 1895, a group of pro-Qing high officials proclaimed the [Republic of Formosa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Formosa) to resist impending Japanese rule.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") Japanese forces entered the capital at Tainan and quelled this resistance on 21 October 1895.[\[163\]](../../page/7/#ref-163 "note 163")[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") About 6,000 inhabitants died in the initial fighting and some 14,000 died in the first year of Japanese rule.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") Another 12,000 "bandit-rebels" were killed from 1898 to 1902.[\[164\]](../../page/7/#ref-164 "note 164")[\[165\]](../../page/7/#ref-165 "note 165")[\[166\]](../../page/7/#ref-166 "note 166")[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") Subsequent rebellions against the Japanese (the [Beipu uprising](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beipu_uprising) of 1907, the [Tapani incident](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapani_incident) of 1915, and the [Musha incident](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wushe_incident) of 1930) were unsuccessful but demonstrated opposition to Japanese rule.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") The colonial period was instrumental to the industrialization of the island, with its expansion of railways and other transport networks, the building of an extensive sanitation system, the establishment of a formal [education system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Taiwan), and an end to the practice of [headhunting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headhunting).[\[167\]](../../page/7/#ref-167 "note 167")[\[168\]](../../page/7/#ref-168 "note 168")[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") The resources of Taiwan were used to aid the development of Japan.[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") The production of [cash crops](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_crops) such as sugar greatly increased, and large areas were therefore diverted from the production of rice.[\[169\]](../../page/7/#ref-169 "note 169")[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") By 1939, Taiwan was the seventh-greatest sugar producer in the world.[\[170\]](../../page/7/#ref-170 "note 170")[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") The Han and Indigenous populations were classified as second- and third-class citizens, and many prestigious government and business positions were closed to them.[\[171\]](../../page/7/#ref-171 "note 171")[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") After suppressing Han guerrillas in the first decade of their rule, Japanese authorities engaged in bloody campaigns against the Indigenous people residing in mountainous regions, culminating in the Musha Incident of 1930.[\[172\]](../../page/7/#ref-172 "note 172")[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") Intellectuals and laborers who participated in left-wing movements were also arrested and massacred (e.g. [Chiang Wei-shui](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Wei-shui) and [Masanosuke Watanabe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masanosuke_Watanabe)).[\[173\]](../../page/7/#ref-173 "note 173")[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") Around 1936, the Japanese governor-general [Seizō Kobayashi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seizō_Kobayashi) began an island-wide [assimilation project](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanization).[\[174\]](../../page/7/#ref-174 "note 174")[151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") Chinese-language newspapers were abolished.[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") National [Shinto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Shinto) religion was promoted in parallel with suppression of traditional Taiwanese beliefs.[153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") By late 1940, when temple destruction in Taiwan had ended, the number of native temples had decreased by a third.[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") Starting from 1940, families were also encouraged to adopt [Japanese surnames](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_surname) (a policy called [kaiseimei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiseimei)), although only slightly more than 2% had done so by 1943, and possibly about 7% by August 1945.[\[174\]](../../page/7/#ref-174 "note 174")[155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") By 1938, 309,000 Japanese were residing in Taiwan.[\[175\]](../../page/7/#ref-175 "note 175")[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") During the Second World War, the island was developed into a naval and air base while its agriculture, industry, and commerce suffered.[\[176\]](../../page/7/#ref-176 "note 176")[\[177\]](../../page/7/#ref-177 "note 177")[157](../../157/ "tree and pragmatics") Air attacks and the subsequent invasion of the [Philippines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines) [corpus](../../../Philippines/ "in our corpus") were launched from Taiwan.[158](../../158/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Imperial Japanese Navy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Japanese_Navy) operated heavily from Taiwanese ports, and its think tank "[South Strike Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanshin-ron#Theoretical_development)" was based at [Taihoku Imperial University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taihoku_Imperial_University).[159](../../159/ "tree and pragmatics") Military bases and industrial centers, such as [Kaohsiung](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaohsiung) and [Keelung](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keelung), became targets of heavy [Allied bombings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid_on_Taipei), which destroyed many of the factories, dams, and transport facilities built by the Japanese.[\[178\]](../../page/7/#ref-178 "note 178")[\[177\]](../../page/7/#ref-177 "note 177")[160](../../160/ "tree and pragmatics") In October 1944, the [Formosa Air Battle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formosa_Air_Battle) was fought between American carriers and Japanese forces in Taiwan.[161](../../161/ "tree and pragmatics") Over 200,000 [Taiwanese served in the Japanese military](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_Imperial_Japan_Serviceman), with over 30,000 casualties.[\[179\]](../../page/7/#ref-179 "note 179")[162](../../162/ "tree and pragmatics") Over 2,000 women, euphemistically called "[comfort women](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_women)", were forced into sexual slavery for Imperial Japanese troops.[\[180\]](../../page/7/#ref-180 "note 180")[163](../../163/ "tree and pragmatics") After [Japan's surrender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan%27s_surrender), most Japanese residents were [expelled](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_evacuation_and_expulsion).[\[181\]](../../page/7/#ref-181 "note 181")[164](../../164/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Republic of China (1945–present) Main article: [Republic of China (1912–1949)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China_%281912–1949%29), [History of Taiwan (1945–present)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Taiwan_%281945–present%29) See also: [History of the Republic of China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Republic_of_China), [Chinese Civil War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Civil_War) While Taiwan was under Japanese rule, the [Republic of China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China_%281912–1949%29) was founded on [mainland China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainland_China) on 1 January 1912 following the [Xinhai Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xinhai_Revolution) of 1911.[\[182\]](../../page/7/#ref-182 "note 182")[165](../../165/ "tree and pragmatics") Central authority waxed and waned in response to [warlordism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warlord_Era) (1915–28), [Japanese invasion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Sino-Japanese_War) (1937–45), and the [Chinese Civil War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Civil_War) (1927–49), with central authority strongest during the [Nanjing decade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanjing_decade) (1927–37), when most of China came under the control of the [Kuomintang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuomintang) (KMT).[\[183\]](../../page/7/#ref-183 "note 183")[166](../../166/ "tree and pragmatics") During [World War II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II), the 1943 [Cairo Declaration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1943_Cairo_Declaration) specified that Formosa and the Pescadores be returned by Japan to the ROC;[\[184\]](../../page/7/#ref-184 "note 184")[\[185\]](../../page/7/#ref-185 "note 185") the terms were later repeated in the 1945 [Potsdam Declaration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potsdam_Declaration)[\[186\]](../../page/7/#ref-186 "note 186") that Japan agreed to carry out in [its instrument of surrender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Instrument_of_Surrender).[\[187\]](../../page/7/#ref-187 "note 187")[\[188\]](../../page/7/#ref-188 "note 188")[167](../../167/ "tree and pragmatics") On [25 October 1945](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrocession_Day), Japan surrendered Taiwan to the ROC, and in the [Treaty of San Francisco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_San_Francisco), Japan formally renounced their claims to the islands, though without specifying to whom they were surrendered.[\[189\]](../../page/7/#ref-189 "note 189")[\[190\]](../../page/7/#ref-190 "note 190")[\[191\]](../../page/7/#ref-191 "note 191")[\[192\]](../../page/7/#ref-192 "note 192")[\[193\]](../../page/7/#ref-193 "note 193")[168](../../168/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1952, Japan and the ROC signed [a peace treaty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Taipei).[\[194\]](../../page/7/#ref-194 "note 194")[169](../../169/ "tree and pragmatics") The ROC appointed General [Chen Yi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Yi_%28Kuomintang%29) garrison commander and administrator of Taiwan.[170](../../170/ "tree and pragmatics") While initially enthusiastic about the return of Chinese administration and the [Three Principles of the People](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Principles_of_the_People), Formosans grew increasingly dissatisfied about being excluded from higher positions, the postponement of local elections even after the enactment of a [constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROC_Constitution) on the mainland, the smuggling of valuables off the island, the expropriation of businesses into government-operated monopolies, and the [hyperinflation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperinflation) of 1945–1949.[\[195\]](../../page/7/#ref-195 "note 195")[\[196\]](../../page/7/#ref-196 "note 196")[\[197\]](../../page/7/#ref-197 "note 197")[\[198\]](../../page/7/#ref-198 "note 198")[171](../../171/ "tree and pragmatics") The shooting of a civilian on 28 February 1947 triggered island-wide unrest, which was suppressed with military force in what is now called the [February 28 incident](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_28_incident).[\[199\]](../../page/7/#ref-199 "note 199")[\[200\]](../../page/7/#ref-200 "note 200")[172](../../172/ "tree and pragmatics") Mainstream estimates of the number killed range from 18,000 to 30,000.[\[201\]](../../page/7/#ref-201 "note 201")[\[202\]](../../page/7/#ref-202 "note 202")[\[203\]](../../page/7/#ref-203 "note 203")[173](../../173/ "tree and pragmatics") Chen was replaced by [Wei Tao-ming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wei_Tao-ming), who made an effort to undo previous mismanagement by re-appointing a good proportion of islanders and re-privatizing businesses.[\[204\]](../../page/7/#ref-204 "note 204")[174](../../174/ "tree and pragmatics") After the end of World War II, the Chinese Civil War resumed.[175](../../175/ "tree and pragmatics") A series of Chinese Communist offensives in 1949 led to the capture of its capital [Nanjing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanjing) on 23 April and the subsequent defeat of the Nationalists on the mainland.[176](../../176/ "tree and pragmatics") The Communists [founded the People's Republic of China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proclamation_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China) on 1 October.[\[205\]](../../page/7/#ref-205 "note 205")[177](../../177/ "tree and pragmatics") On 7 December 1949, Chiang Kai-shek [evacuated his Nationalist government to Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retreat_of_the_Republic_of_China_to_Taiwan) and made Taipei the [temporary capital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporary_capital) of the ROC.[\[206\]](../../page/7/#ref-206 "note 206")[178](../../178/ "tree and pragmatics") Some 2 million people, mainly soldiers, members of the ruling Kuomintang and intellectual and business elites, were evacuated to Taiwan, adding to the earlier population of approximately six million.[179](../../179/ "tree and pragmatics") These people and their descendants became known in Taiwan as [waishengren](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waishengren) (外省人).[180](../../180/ "tree and pragmatics") The ROC government took to Taipei many national treasures and much of China's [gold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_reserves) and foreign currency reserves.[\[207\]](../../page/7/#ref-207 "note 207")[\[208\]](../../page/7/#ref-208 "note 208")[\[209\]](../../page/7/#ref-209 "note 209")[181](../../181/ "tree and pragmatics") Most of the gold was used to pay soldiers' salaries,[\[210\]](../../page/7/#ref-210 "note 210") with some used to issue the [New Taiwan dollar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Taiwan_dollar), part of a price stabilization program to slow inflation in Taiwan.[\[211\]](../../page/7/#ref-211 "note 211")[\[212\]](../../page/7/#ref-212 "note 212")[182](../../182/ "tree and pragmatics") After losing control of mainland China in 1949, the ROC retained control of Taiwan and Penghu ([Taiwan, ROC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_%28Republic_of_China_province%29)), parts of Fujian ([Fujian, ROC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujian_Province,_Republic_of_China))—specifically Kinmen, [Wuqiu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuqiu,_Kinmen) (now part of Kinmen) and the Matsu Islands and two major [islands in the South China Sea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_China_Sea_Islands).[183](../../183/ "tree and pragmatics") The ROC also briefly retained control of the entirety of [Hainan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainan), parts of [Zhejiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhejiang) ([Chekiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chekiang_Province,_Republic_of_China))—specifically the [Dachen Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dachen_Islands) and [Yijiangshan Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yijiangshan_Islands)—and portions of [Tibet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet_%281912–1951%29), [Qinghai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qinghai), [Xinjiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xinjiang_Province,_Republic_of_China) and [Yunnan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yunnan).[184](../../184/ "tree and pragmatics") The Communists [captured Hainan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hainan_Island) in 1950, captured the Dachen Islands and Yijiangshan Islands during the [First Taiwan Strait Crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Taiwan_Strait_Crisis) in 1955 and defeated the [ROC revolts in Northwest China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuomintang_Islamic_insurgency) in 1958.[185](../../185/ "tree and pragmatics") ROC forces entered Burma and Thailand in the 1950s and [were defeated by Communists in 1961](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960–61_campaign_at_the_China–Burma_border).[186](../../186/ "tree and pragmatics") Since losing control of mainland China, the Kuomintang continued to claim sovereignty over 'all of China', which it defined to include mainland China (including Tibet), Taiwan (including Penghu), [Outer Mongolia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Mongolia), and [other minor territories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Taiwan).[187](../../187/ "tree and pragmatics") #### Martial law era (1949–1987) See also: [Martial law in Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_law_in_Taiwan), [Taiwan Miracle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_Miracle) [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/) **2** [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/6/) [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/7/) - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/) - next →: [page 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Taiwan/page/3/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)