Taiwan Province

Taiwan Province 臺灣省
Streamlined Province
Taiwan Province of the Republic of China (in red).
Coordinates: 23°48′N 121°00′E / 23.8°N 121.0°E / 23.8; 121.0Coordinates: 23°48′N 121°00′E / 23.8°N 121.0°E / 23.8; 121.0
Country	Republic of China
Established	October 25, 1945 (Retrocession Day)
Streamlined	December 21, 1998
Provincial capital	Taipei (1945-1956) Zhongxing New Village (1956-)
Government
• Chairperson	Hsu Jan-yau
Area
• Total	25,110.0037 km2 (9,695.0266 sq mi)
Population (2014)
• Total	7,182,952
• Density	290/km2 (740/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Taiwanese
Time zone	Asia/Taipei (UTC+8)
Postal codes	200–206, 260–369, 500–655, 880–885, 900–983
Area codes	(0)2, (0)3, (0)4, (0)5, (0)6, (0)8
ISO 3166 code	TW
Counties	11
Cities	3
Website	www.TPG.gov.tw

Taiwan Province is one of the two administrative divisions of the Republic of China (ROC) that are officially referred to as "provinces". The province covers approximately 69% of the actual-controlled territory of the ROC, with around 31% of the total population.

Geographically it covers the majority of the island of Taiwan as well as almost all of its surrounding islands, the largest of which are the Penghu archipelago, Green Island, Xiaoliuqiu Island and Orchid Island. Taiwan Province does not cover territories of the special municipalities of Kaohsiung, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Taipei, and Taoyuan, all of which are located geographically within the main island of Taiwan. It also does not include the counties of Kinmen and Lienchiang, which are located alongside the southeast coast of mainland China and administered as a separate Fujian Province (not to be confused with the PRC's Fujian Province).

Originally Taiwan Province covered the entire island of Taiwan and all its associated islands. All the special municipalities were split off from the province between 1967 and 2014. Since 1997 most of the Taiwan provincial government's functions have been transferred to the central government of the Republic of China following a constitutional amendment. The Taiwan Provincial Government has effectively become a nominal institution under the Executive Yuan's administration.^[1][2]

The People's Republic of China (PRC) regards itself as the "successor state" of the Republic of China (ROC), which the PRC claims no longer legitimately exists, following establishment of the PRC in mainland China. The PRC asserts itself to be the sole legitimate government of China, and claims Taiwan as its 23rd province, even though the PRC itself has never had control of Taiwan or other ROC-held territories. The ROC disputes this position, maintaining that it still legitimately exists and that the PRC has not succeeded it to sovereignty.

History

Qing Dynasty

In 1683, Zheng Keshuang (third ruler of the Kingdom of Tungning and a grandson of Koxinga), surrendered to the Qing following a naval engagement with Admiral Shi Lang. The Qing then ruled the Taiwanese archipelago (including Penghu) as Taiwan Prefecture of Fujian Province. In 1875, Taipeh Prefecture was separated from Taiwan Prefecture. In 1885, work commenced under the auspices of Liu Ming-chuan to develop Taiwan into a province. In 1887, the island was declared an independent "Taiwan Province" (officially Fukien-Taiwan Province), with Liu as the first governor.^[3] The province was also reorganized into four prefectures, eleven districts, and three sub-prefectures.^[4][5] The provincial capital, or "Taiwan-fu", was intended to be moved from the south (modern-day Tainan) to the more central area of Toatun (modern-day Taichung) in the revamped Taiwan Prefecture.^[6] As the new central Taiwan-fu was still under construction, the capital was temporarily moved north to Taipeh (modern-day Taipei), which eventually was designated the provincial capital.

Empire of Japan

In 1895, the entire Taiwan Province, including Penghu, was ceded to Japan following the First Sino-Japanese War through the Treaty of Shimonoseki. Under Japanese rule, the province was abolished in favour of Japanese-style divisions. After the surrender of Japan in 1945, the Taiwan was handed over to the Republic of China (ROC). The way that the ROC obtained Taiwan is a subject of controversy that gave root to the complex unresolved political status of Taiwan and the Taiwan independence movement.

Republic of China

The ROC government immediately established the Taiwan Provincial Government under first Chief Executive and government-general Chen Yi in September 1945.^[8][9] Chen was extremely unpopular and his rule led to an uprising - the February 28 Incident. Chen was recalled in May 1947 and the government-general position was abolished.

When the Republic of China government was relocated to Taipei in 1949 as a result of the Kuomintang's (KMT) defeat by the Chinese Communist Party forces in the Chinese Civil War, the provincial administration remained in place under the claim that the ROC was still the government of all of China even though the opposition argued that it overlapped inefficiently with the national government.

The building of the Taiwan Provincial Government at Zhongxing New Village

The seat of the provincial government was moved from Taipei to Zhongxing New Village in 1956. Historically, Taiwan Province covers the entire island of Taiwan and all its associated islands. The city of Taipei was split off to become a province-level special municipality in 1967, and the city of Kaohsiung was split off in 1979 to become another special municipality. In December 2010, Kaohsiung County left the province and merged with the original Kaohsiung City to become an expanded Kaohsiung City, Taipei County became the special municipality named New Taipei City. The cities and counties of Taichung and Tainan were also merged, respectively, and elevated to special municipality. On 25 December 2014, Taoyuan County was upgraded into a special municipality and split off from Taiwan Province.

Until 1992, the governor of Taiwan province was appointed by the ROC central government. The office was often a stepping stone to higher office.

In 1992, the post of the governor of the province was opened to election. The then-opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) agreed to retain the province with an elected governor in the hopes of creating a "Yeltsin effect" in which a popular local leader could overwhelm the national government. These hopes proved unfulfilled as then-Kuomintang member James Soong was elected governor of the Taiwan province by a wide margin, defeating the DPP candidate Chen Ding-nan.

In 1997, as the result of an agreement between the KMT and the DPP, the administration of the province was streamlined and curtailed by constitutional changes. For example, the post of provincial governor and the provincial assembly were both abolished and replaced with a nine-member special council. Although the stated purpose was administrative efficiency, Soong and his supporters claim that it was actually intended to destroy James Soong's power base and eliminate him from political life, though it did not have this effect. In addition, the provincial legislature was abolished, while the Legislative Yuan was expanded to include some of the former provincial legislators.

Prior to January 1, 2007 all vehicles registered in Taiwan Province carried the label "Taiwan Province" (台灣省) on their license plates.

The provincial administration has been greatly streamlined in 1998, and handed most of its power to the central government. The counties and provincial cities under the province then became the primary administrative divisions in the country. In contrast to the past where the head of Taiwan province was considered a major official, the Governor of the Taiwan Provincial Government after 1999 has been considered a very minor position.

Government

Since the streamlining of the Taiwan Provincial Government in 1998, the government has been headed by a provincial council of nine members, led by the provincial governor. The members of the Provincial Council are all appointed by the president. The major operations of the provincial government, such as managing provincial highways and the Bank of Taiwan, have been transferred to the Executive Yuan.

Divisions

Taiwan Province is divided into 11 counties (縣 xiàn)      and 3 provincial cities (市 shì)     :

Map	No.	Name		Mandarin (Pinyin)	Taiwanese (Pe̍h-ōe-jī)	Hakka (Pha̍k-fa-sṳ)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14	1	Changhua County	彰化縣	Zhānghuà xiàn	Chiong-hoà koān	Chông-fa yen
	2	Chiayi City	嘉義市	Jiāyì shì	Ka-gī chhī	Kâ-ngi sṳ
	3	Chiayi County	嘉義縣	Jiāyì xiàn	Ka-gī koān	Kâ-ngi yen
	4	Hsinchu City	新竹市	Xīnzhú shì	Sin-tek chhī	Sîn-tsuk sṳ
	5	Hsinchu County	新竹縣	Xīnzhú xiàn	Sin-tek koān	Sîn-tsuk yen
	6	Hualien County	花蓮縣	Huālián xiàn	Hoa-liân koān	Fâ-lièn yen
	7	Keelung City	基隆市	Jīlóng shì	Ke-lâng chhī	Kî-lùng sṳ
	8	Miaoli County	苗栗縣	Miáolì xiàn	Biâu-le̍k koān	Mèu-li̍t yen
	9	Nantou County	南投縣	Nántóu xiàn	Lâm-tâu koān	Nàm-thèu yen
	10	Penghu County	澎湖縣	Pénghú xiàn	Phêⁿ-ô͘ koān	Phàng-fù yen
	11	Pingtung County	屏東縣	Píngdōng xiàn	Pîn-tong koān	Phìn-tûng yen
	12	Taitung County	臺東縣	Táidōng xiàn	Tâi-tang koān	Thòi-tûng yen
	13	Yilan County	宜蘭縣	Yílán xiàn	Gî-lân koān	Ngì-làn yen
	14	Yunlin County	雲林縣	Yúnlín xiàn	Hûn-lîm koān	Yùn-lìm yen

Note: The cities of Kaohsiung, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Taipei and Taoyuan are administered directly by the central government and are not part of Taiwan province. The Senkaku Islands, which are currently administered by Japan, are disputed by both the ROC and PRC, which claim them as the Tiaoyutai/Diaoyutai Islands. The ROC government claims them as part of Toucheng Township, Yilan County.

Administrative history

Decisions by the Executive Yuan since 1945:

Governor of the Province

Official titles of the governor

List of Governors

  Kuomintang   Non-partisan/ unknown   Democratic Progressive Party

Chief Executive

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Political Party
1		Chen Yi 陳儀 Chén Yí (1883-1950)	August 29, 1945	April 22, 1947	Kuomintang

Chairperson of the Provincial Government

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Political Party
1		Wei Tao-ming 魏道明 Wèi Dàomíng (1899-1978)	May 16, 1947	January 5, 1949	Kuomintang
2		Chen Cheng 陳誠 Chén Chéng (1897–1965)	January 5, 1949	December 21, 1949	Kuomintang
3		K. C. Wu 吳國楨 Wú Guózhēn (1903–1984)	December 21, 1949	April 16, 1953	Kuomintang
4		O. K. Yui 俞鴻鈞 Yú Hóngjūn (1897–1960)	April 16, 1953	June 7, 1954	Kuomintang
5		Yen Chia-kan (C.K. Yen) 嚴家淦 Yán Jiāgàn (1905–1993)	June 7, 1954	August 16, 1957	Kuomintang
6		Chow Chih-jou 周至柔 Yán Jiāgàn (1899–1986)	August 16, 1957	December 1, 1962	Kuomintang
7		Huang Chieh 黃杰 Huáng Jié (1902–1995)	December 1, 1962	July 5, 1969	Kuomintang
8		Chen Ta-ching 陳大慶 Chén Dàqìng (1904–1973)	July 5, 1969	June 6, 1972	Kuomintang
9		Hsieh Tung-min 謝東閔 Xiè Dōngmǐn (1908–2001)	June 6, 1972	May 20, 1978	Kuomintang
—		Chu Shao-hwa 瞿韶華 Qú Sháohuá (1914-1996)	May 20, 1978	June 11, 1978	Kuomintang
			As acting; Secretary General of the Provincial Government.
10		Lin Yang-kang 林洋港 Lín Yánggǎng (1927–2013)	June 12, 1978	December 5, 1981	Kuomintang
11		Lee Teng-hui 李登輝 Lǐ Dēnghuī (1923–)	December 5, 1981	May 20, 1984	Kuomintang
—		Liu Chao-tien 劉兆田 Liú Zhàotián	May 20, 1984	June 8, 1984	Kuomintang
			As acting; Secretary General of the Provincial Government.
12		Chiu Chuang-huan 邱創煥 Qīu Chuànghuàn (1925–)	June 9, 1984	June 16, 1990	Kuomintang
13		Lien Chan 連戰 Lián Zhàn (1936–)	June 16, 1990	February 25, 1993[10]	Kuomintang
—		Tu Teh-chi 凃德錡 Tú Déqí	February 27, 1993	March 19, 1993	Kuomintang
			As acting; Secretary General of the Provincial Government.
14		James Soong 宋楚瑜 Sòng Chǔyú (1942–)	March 20, 1993	December 20, 1994	Kuomintang

Governor

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Political Party
1		James Soong 宋楚瑜 Sòng Chǔyú (1942–)	December 20, 1994	December 21, 1998	Kuomintang

Chairperson of the Provincial Government

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Political Party
15		Chao Shou-po 趙守博 Sòng Chǔyú (1941–)	December 21, 1998	May 2, 2000	Kuomintang
—		Chiang Ching-hsien 江清馦 Jiāng Qīngxiān	May 2, 2000	May 19, 2000	Independent
			As acting; Secretary General of the Provincial Government.
16		Chang Po-ya 張博雅 Zhāng Bóyă (1942-)	May 20, 2000	February 1, 2002	Independent
			First female chairperson. Concurrently held post of Minister of the Interior.
17		Fan Kuang-chun 范光群 Fàn Guāngqún (1939–)	February 1, 2002	October 7, 2003	Democratic Progressive Party
18		Lin Kuang-hua 林光華 Lín Guānghuá (1945-)	October 13, 2003	January 25, 2006	Democratic Progressive Party
—		Jeng Peir-fuh 鄭培富 Zhèng Péifù	January 25, 2006	December 7, 2007	Independent
			As acting; Secretary General of the Provincial Government.
19		Lin Hsi-yao 林錫耀 Lín Xíyào (1961–)	December 7, 2007	May 19, 2008	Democratic Progressive Party
			Concurrently held post of Minister Without Portfolio.
20		Tsai Hsun-hsiung 蔡勳雄 Cài Xūnxióng (1941–)	May 20, 2008	September 10, 2009	Kuomintang
			Concurrently held post of Minister Without Portfolio.
21		Chang Jin-fu 張進福 Zhāng Jìnfú (1948–)	September 10, 2009	February 26, 2010	Independent
			Concurrently held post of Minister Without Portfolio.
22		Lin Junq-tzer 林政則 Lín Zhèngzé (1944-)	February 26, 2010	May 20, 2016	Kuomintang
			Concurrently held post of Minister Without Portfolio.
23		Shih Jun-ji 施俊吉 Shī Jùnjí (1955–)	May 20, 2016	June 30, 2016
			Concurrently held post of Minister Without Portfolio. Shortest serving chairperson.
24		Hsu Jan-yau 許璋瑤 (1951–)	July 1, 2016	Incumbent
			Concurrently held post of Minister Without Portfolio and Minister of Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission.

PRC's claims

The PRC claims the entirety of the island of Taiwan and its surrounding islets, including the Penghu, as parts of its Taiwan Province, corresponding to the ROC's Taiwan Province before the special municipalities were split off. The PRC claims that Taiwan is part of China, that the PRC succeeded the ROC as the sole legitimate authority in all of China upon its founding in 1949, and that therefore Taiwan is part of the PRC.

Sister States/Provinces

• Ohio, United States (1985)^[11]
• Florida, United States (1992)^[12]

See also

• Fujian Province, Republic of China
• History of the Republic of China
• Politics of the Republic of China
• Political status of Taiwan
• Chinese Taipei
• "Taiwan, China" - A political term used by China
• Taiwan Province, People's Republic of China

Further reading

• Bush, R. & O'Hanlon, M. (2007). A War Like No Other: The Truth About China's Challenge to America. Wiley. ISBN 0-471-98677-1
• Bush, R. (2006). Untying the Knot: Making Peace in the Taiwan Strait. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 0-8157-1290-1
• Carpenter, T. (2006). America's Coming War with China: A Collision Course over Taiwan. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1-4039-6841-1
• Cole, B. (2006). Taiwan's Security: History and Prospects. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-36581-3
• Copper, J. (2006). Playing with Fire: The Looming War with China over Taiwan. Praeger Security International General Interest. ISBN 0-275-98888-0
• Federation of American Scientists et al. (2006). Chinese Nuclear Forces and U.S. Nuclear War Planning
• Gill, B. (2007). Rising Star: China's New Security Diplomacy. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 0-8157-3146-9
• Shirk, S. (2007). China: Fragile Superpower: How China's Internal Politics Could Derail Its Peaceful Rise. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-530609-0
• Tsang, S. (2006). If China Attacks Taiwan: Military Strategy, Politics and Economics. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-40785-0
• Tucker, N.B. (2005). Dangerous Strait: the U.S.-Taiwan-China Crisis. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-13564-5

References

External links

• Taiwan Provincial Government official site
• Local government structures by the Department of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Interior, ROC

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