Taiwan Province

This article is about Taiwan Province, an administrative province under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China (also commonly but incorrectly called "Taiwan"). For the claimed province of the People's Republic of China (PRC), see Taiwan Province, People's Republic of China.

Taiwan Province 臺灣省
Taiwan Province of the Republic of China (in dark grey). The Tiaoyutai Islands to the northeast of the main island of Taiwan, claimed by the ROC as part of Ilan County are too small to be shown.
Capital	Jhongsing Village
Official languages	Standard Mandarin
Demonym	Taiwanese
Area	35,581 km² (1st)
Population (Feb 2006) - Density	18,576,518 (1st) 522/km²
Ethnic groups	Han Chinese - 97.5% Other - 2.5%
County-level divisions	16
Township-level divisions	287
Currency	New Taiwan dollar (NT$)
Currency code	TWD
GDP (PPP)	NT$ to be added billion

Template:FixHTML Taiwan Province (traditional Chinese: 臺灣省 or 台灣省; simplified Chinese: 台湾省; pinyin: Táiwān Shěng) is one of the two administrative divisions referred to as provinces and governed by the Republic of China (ROC). The province covers most of the current territory of the Republic of China. Geographically it covers the majority of the island of Taiwan as well as all the smaller islands surrounding it, the largest of which are the Penghu archipelago, the Green Island and the Orchid Island.

Taiwan Province excludes the Kinmen and Lienchiang counties, which are administered as Fujian province, and the centrally administered municipalities of Taipei and Kaohsiung, both of which located geographically within the island of Taiwan. Since 1998, the Taiwan Provincial Government has been streamlined, with most of its functions transferred to the Executive Yuan.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) in mainland China regards itself as the "successor state" of the Republic of China (ROC), which it claims no longer legitimately exists. The PRC further claims that as such, the PRC has sovereignty over all of China which it claims the island of Taiwan is a part of. The ROC disputes this position, maintaining that it still legitimately exists and that the PRC has not succeeded it to sovereignty over Taiwan.

History

In 1683, following a naval engagement with Admiral Shi Lang, Koxinga's (Cheng Ch'eng Kung) grandson Zheng Keshuang and ruler of Taiwan submitted to the Qing Dynasty (then romanised as Ch'ing Dynasty). Then the Qing Dynasty ruled Taiwan (including Penghu) as a prefecture of Fujian Province. In 1875, Taipei Prefecture was separated from the original prefecture. In 1887, Taiwan was made a separate province.

In 1895, Taiwan was ceded to Japan. Under Japanese rule, the province was abolished in favour of Japanese-style divisions. After Japan surrendered in 1945 Republic of China obtained control of Taiwan.

The ROC government did not immediately make Taiwan into a province, but put it under military occupation under Chief Executive Chen Yi. Chen was extremely unpopular and his rule led to an uprising - the 228 incident. Chen was recalled in May 1947 and the government-general was abolished. To assure the residents of Taiwan that they would be treated equally as other people in other parts of the country, the Taiwan Provincial Government was established.

When the Republic of China government was relocated to Taipei in 1949 as a result of the Kuomintang (KMT)'s defeat to the Communist Party 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. As such, Taiwan is considered to be one of the provinces under the Republic of China.

The building of the Provincial Government of the Taiwan Province at Chunghsing Village

The seat of the provincial government was moved from Taipei to Chunghsing Village (Jhongsing Village) in 1956. In 1967 and 1979 respectively, the cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung were separated from the province and turned into centrally-administered municipalities.

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 in curtailed 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, leaving counties and provincial cities the primary divisions in Taiwan Province. 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 of the Republic of China. 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

Main article: Political divisions of the Republic of China

Taiwan Province is divided into 16 counties (縣; hsien) and 5 provincial cities (市; shih):

Counties

Romanization	Chinese	Tongyong Pinyin	Hanyu Pinyin	Wade-Giles	Capital
Chiayi County	嘉義縣	Jiayì	Jiāyì	Chia1-i4	Taibao City
Changhua County	彰化縣	Jhanghuà	Zhānghuà	Chang1-hua4	Changhua City
Hsinchu County	新竹縣	Sinjhú	Xīnzhú	Hsin1-chu2	Jhubei City
Hualien County	花蓮縣	Hualián	Huālián	Hua1-lien2	Hualien City
Kaohsiung County	高雄縣	Gaosyóng	Gāoxióng	Kao1-hsiung2	Fongshan City
Miaoli County	苗栗縣	Miáolì	Miáolì	Miao2-li4	Miaoli City
Nantou County	南投縣	Nántóu	Nántóu	Nan2-t'ou2	Nantou City
Penghu County	澎湖縣	Pénghú	Pénghú	P'eng2-hu2	Magong City
Pingtung County	屏東縣	Píngdong	Píngdōng	P'ing2-tung1	Pingtung City
Taichung County	台中縣	Táijhong	Táizhōng	T'ai2-chung1	Fongyuan City
Tainan County	台南縣	Táinán	Táinán	T'ai2-nan2	Sinying City
Taipei County	台北縣	Táiběi	Táiběi	T'ai2-pei3	Banciao City
Taitung County	台東縣	Táidong	Táidōng	T'ai2-tung1	Taitung City
Taoyuan County	桃園縣	Táoyuán	Táoyuán	T'ao2-yüan2	Taoyuan City
Yilan County	宜蘭縣	Yílán	Yílán	I2-lan2	Yilan City
Yunlin County	雲林縣	Yúnlín	Yúnlín	Yün2-lin2	Douliou City

Provincial municipalities

Romanization	Chinese	Tongyong Pinyin	Hanyu Pinyin	Wade-Giles
Chiayi City	嘉義市	Jiayì	Jiāyì	Chia1-i4
Hsinchu City	新竹市	Sinjhú	Xīnzhú	Hsin1-chu2
Keelung City	基隆市	Jilóng	Jīlóng	Chi1-lung2
Taichung City	台中市	Táijhong	Táizhōng	T'ai2-chung1
Tainan City	台南市	Táinán	Táinán	T'ai2-nan2

Note: The cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung are administered directly by the central government and are not part of Taiwan province, though the counties of the same name surrounding these cities are part of the province. The PRC, which does not administer Taiwan Province, does not recognize Taipei and Kaohsiung as central municipalities and lists them as provincial municipalities.

The Senkaku Islands, which is currently administered by Japan is disputed by both the ROC and PRC which claims them as Tiaoyutai/Diaoyutai Islands. The ROC government claims them as part of Toucheng Township, Yilan County.

Administrative history

Decisions by the Executive Yuan since 1945:

• December 25, 1945:
  • 8 counties of Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Taitung, and Penghu
  • 9 provincial cities: Taipei, Keelung, Hsinchu, Taichung, Changhua, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pintung.
  • 2 county-controlled cities: Hualien and Yilan
• August 16, 1950:
  • 16 counties: all existing ones
  • 8 provincial cities: reduced Chiayi a county-controlled city
• December 1, 1951: 5 provincial cities: reduced Hsinchu, Changhua, and Pintung to county-controlled cities
• 1967: Taipei became the first Taiwanese municipality
• November 11, 1967: All county seats (originally towns) upgraded to county-controlled cities.
• 1979: Kaohsiung became the second Taiwanese municipality
• July 1, 1982: 2 new provincial cities: Hsinchu and Chiayi (approved on April 23, 1981)

List of Governors

Chief Executive

The position of Chief Executive (Chinese: 行政長官; Hanyu Pinyin: xíngzhèng zhǎngguān; Tongyong Pinyin: síngjhèng jhǎngguan) was temporarily part of the Executive Yuan, the position was legalized in Taiwan Province Administrative Official Public Ministry Organization Statute (臺灣省行政長官公署組織條例 Táiwān-shěng xíngzhèng zhǎngguān gōngshǔ zǔzhī tiáolì) of September 20, 1945.

Governor	Chinese	Tongyong Pinyin	Hanyu Pinyin	Term in office
Chen Yi	陳儀	Chen Yí	Chen Yí	August 29, 1945 - April 22, 1947

Chairman of the Provincial Government

Governors (Chinese: 省主席; Hanyu Pinyin: shěngzhǔxí; Tongyong Pinyin: shěngjhǔsí, "provincial chairperson"):

Governor	Chinese	Tongyong Pinyin	Hanyu Pinyin	Term in office
Wey Daw-ming	魏道明	Wèi Dàomíng	Wèi Dàomíng	May 16, 1947 - January 5, 1949
Chen Cheng	陳誠	Chén Chéng	Chén Chéng	January 5, 1949 - December 21, 1949
Wu Gwo-jen (Wu Kuo-chen)	吳國楨	Wú Guójhen	Wú Guózhēn	December 21, 1949 - April 16, 1953
Yu Horng-jiun	俞鴻鈞	Yú Hóngjun	Yú Hóngjūn	April 16, 1953 - June 7, 1954
Yen Chia-kan	嚴家淦	Yán Jiagàn	Yán Jiāgàn	June 7, 1954 - August 16, 1957
Chow Chih-jou	周至柔	Jhou Jhìhróu	Zhōu Zhìróu	August 16, 1957 - December 1, 1962
Huang Chieh	黃傑	Huáng Jié	Huáng Jié	December 1, 1962 - July 5, 1969
Chen Ta-ching	陳大慶	Chén Dàcìng	Chén Dàqìng	July 5, 1969 - June 6, 1972
Shien Tung-min	謝東閔	Siè Dongmǐn	Xiè Dōngmǐn	June 6, 1972 - May 20, 1978
Lin Yang-kang	林洋港	Lín Yánggǎng	Lín Yánggǎng	June 12, 1978 - December 5, 1981
Lee Teng-hui	李登輝	Lǐ Denghuei	Lǐ Dēnghuī	December 5, 1981 - May 20, 1984
Chiu Chuang-huan	邱創煥	Ciou Chuànghuàn	Qīu Chuànghuàn	June 9, 1984 - June 16, 1990
Lien Chan	連戰	Lián Jhàn	Lián Zhàn	June 16, 1990 - February 25, 1993
James Soong	宋楚瑜	Sòng Chǔyú	Sòng Chǔyú	March 20, 1993 - December 20, 1994

Governor

Governor of the Province(Chinese: 省長; Hanyu Pinyin: shěngzhǎng; Tongyong Pinyin: shěngjhǎng). The title "Governor" was first legally used in the Self-Governance Law for Provinces and Counties (省縣自治法) of July 29, 1994.

Governor	Chinese	Tongyong Pinyin	Hanyu Pinyin	Term in office
James Soong	宋楚瑜	Sòng Chǔyú	Sòng Chǔyú	December 20, 1994 - December 21, 1998

Chairman of the Provincial 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 of the Republic of China. The major operations of the provincial government, such as managing provincial highways and the Bank of Taiwan, have been transferred to the Executive Yuan.

Governor	Chinese	Tongyong Pinyin	Hanyu Pinyin	Term in office
Chao Shou-po	趙守博	Jhào Shǒubó	Zhào Shǒubó	December 21, 1998 - May 20, 2000
Chang Po-ya	張博雅	Jhang Bóyǎ	Zhāng Bóyǎ	May 20, 2000 - February 1, 2002
Fan Kuang-chun	范光群	Fàn Guangcyún	Fàn Guāngqún	February 1, 2002 - October 13, 2003
Lin Kuang-hua	林光華	Lín Guanghuá	Lín Guānghuá	October 13, 2003 - January 25, 2006
Lin Si-yao	林錫耀	Lín Síyào	Lín Xíyào	December 7, 2007 - May 19, 2008
Tsai Hsun-hsiung	蔡勳雄	Cài Syunsyóng	Cài Xǖnxióng	May 20, 2008 -

Sister States/Provinces

• Florida, United States of America

See also

• Fujian Province, Republic of China
• History of the Republic of China
• Politics of the Republic of China
• Political status of Taiwan
• Legal status of Taiwan
• Chinese Taipei
• Taiwan Province, People's Republic of China
• Kuomintang

Further reading

• Bush, R. & O'Hanlon, M. (2007). A War Like No Other: The Truth About China's Challenge to America. Wiley. ISBN 0471986771
• Bush, R. (2006). Untying the Knot: Making Peace in the Taiwan Strait. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 0815712901
• Carpenter, T. (2006). America's Coming War with China: A Collision Course over Taiwan. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1403968411
• Cole, B. (2006). Taiwan's Security: History and Prospects. Routledge. ISBN 0415365813
• Copper, J. (2006). Playing with Fire: The Looming War with China over Taiwan. Praeger Security International General Interest. ISBN 0275988880
• 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 0815731469
• Shirk, S. (2007). China: Fragile Superpower: How China's Internal Politics Could Derail Its Peaceful Rise. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195306090
• Tsang, S. (2006). If China Attacks Taiwan: Military Strategy, Politics and Economics. Routledge. ISBN 0415407850
• Tucker, N.B. (2005). Dangerous Strait: the U.S.-Taiwan-China Crisis. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231135645

External links

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