Portal:Taiwan/Selected article/2006/November

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Japanese colonial period in Taiwan refers to the period between 1895 and 1945 during which Taiwan was a Japanese colony. Due to differing perceptions of history, it may also be referred to by some as the period of "Japanese occupation".

The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th Century. Japanese rule in Taiwan was markedly different from in Korea. As Taiwan was Japan's first overseas colony, Japanese intentions were to turn the island into a showpiece "model colony". As a result, much effort was made to improve the island's economy, industry, public works, and culture. The relative failures of the early years of post-World War II rule by the Kuomintang ("KMT") led to a certain degree of nostalgia amongst the older generation of Taiwanese who experienced both. This has affected, to some degree, issues such as national identity, ethnic identity, and the Taiwan independence movement. The comparative lack of anti-Japanese sentiment amongst Taiwanese society has also led to misunderstandings with overseas Chinese communities and mainland Chinese. (Read more...)