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Taiwan 臺灣省 | |
|---|---|
| Name transcription(s) | |
| • Chinese | 臺灣省 (Táiwān Shěng) |
| • Abbreviation | TW /臺 (pinyin:Tái; Hokkien:Tâi; Hakka:Thòi) |
| • HokkienPOJ | Tâi-oân-séng |
| • HakkaPFS | Thòi-vàn-sén orThòi-vân-sén |
   .jpg)    | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Map depicting subdivisions nominally part of the province (red) | |
| Coordinates:23°48′N121°00′E / 23.8°N 121.0°E /23.8; 121.0 | |
| Country |  Republic of China |
| Established fromFujian | 1887 |
| Annexed by Japan | 17 April 1895 |
| Placed under the control of the ROC | 25 October 1945 |
| Streamlined | 21 December 1998 |
| Governmental functions removed | 1 July 2018[1] |
| Provincial capital | Zhongxing New Village (1956-2018) Taipei (1945–1956) |
| Largest city | Hsinchu |
| Divisions | 11counties, 3cities |
| Government | |
| • Type | Province (nominal) |
| • Body | National Development Council[a] |
| Area | |
• Total | 25,110.0037 km2 (9,695.0266 sq mi) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,060,473 |
| • Density | 281.1817/km2 (728.2572/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Taiwanese |
| Time zone | UTC+08:00 (NST) |
Taiwan Province (Chinese:臺灣省;pinyin:Táiwān Shěng;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:Tâi-oân-séng;PFS:Thòi-vàn-sén orThòi-vân-sén) is ade jureadministrative division of theRepublic of China (Taiwan). Provinces remain a titular division as a part of theConstitution of the Republic of China, but are no longer considered to have any administrative function practically.[2][3]
Taiwan Province covers approximately 69% of theisland of Taiwan, and comprises around 31% ofthe total population. The province initially covered the entire island of Taiwan (Formosa),Penghu (the Pescadores),Orchid Island,Green Island,Xiaoliuqiu Island, and theirsurrounding islands. Between 1967 and 2014, sixspecial municipalities (Kaohsiung,New Taipei,Taichung,Tainan,Taipei andTaoyuan) were split off from the province, all in the most populous regions.
Taiwan was initially made aprefecture ofFujian Province by theQing dynasty of China after its conquest of theKingdom of Tungning in 1683. Following theFrench offensive in northern Taiwan during theSino-French War, the island's strategic position in maritime security and defence was re-evaluated and given prominence by the Qing.[4] Under the auspices ofLiu Ming-chuan, a plan was commenced to develop Taiwan into a stand-alone division. In 1887, Taiwan was designated as a distinctprovince (namely "Fujian-Taiwan Province";Chinese:福建臺灣省), with Liu as the first governor, but the island was thenceded to theEmpire of Japan in 1895, following China's defeat in theFirst Sino-Japanese War. After thesurrender of Japan inWorld War II, the province was re-established on Taiwan by theKuomintang (KMT) government in September 1945, and it became the last stronghold of the KMT government after their defeat in theChinese Civil War. The provincial capital ofTaipei has correspondingly become theprovisional capital of thecentral government since 1949.
During the constitutional reform initiated in 1996, the Taiwanese government decided to downsize the provincial structure to streamline overlapping personnel and administrative resources between the provincial and central governments, and cut excessive public spending.[5] The provinces ceased to be self-governing bodies in December 1998, with their administrative functions transferred to theExecutive Yuan's subsidiaryNational Development Council, as well as second-tier local governments such ascounties. In July 2018, all provincial governmental organs were formally abolished, with their budget and personnel removed.[3][6]
In 1683,Zheng Keshuang (third ruler of theKingdom of Tungning and a grandson ofKoxinga), surrendered to theQing Empire following a naval engagement with AdmiralShi Lang. The Qing then ruled the Taiwanese archipelago (includingPenghu) asTaiwan Prefecture ofFujian Province. In 1875,Taipeh Prefecture was separated from Taiwan Prefecture. In 1885, work commenced under the auspices ofLiu Ming-chuan to develop Taiwan into a province. In 1887, the island was designated as a province (officially "Fujian-Taiwan Province"; Chinese:福建臺灣省), with Liu as the first governor.[7] The province was also reorganized into four prefectures, eleven districts, and three sub-prefectures.[8][9] The provincial capital, or "Taiwan-fu", was intended to be moved from the south (modern-dayTainan) to the more central area ofToatun (modern-dayTaichung) in the revamped Taiwan Prefecture.[10] 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.
| Circuit | Prefectures | Districts | Sub-Prefectures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | Taipeh | Tamsui | Kelung |
| Gilan | |||
| Hsinchu | |||
| Taiwan | Taiwan (臺灣縣) | ||
| Changwha | Puli | ||
| Yunlin | |||
| Miaoli | |||
| Tainan | Anping | Penghu | |
| Kagi | |||
| Fengshan | |||
| Hengchun | |||
| Taitung | |||
In 1895, the entire Taiwan Province, including Penghu, wasceded toJapan following theFirst Sino-Japanese War through theTreaty of Shimonoseki.Under Japanese rule, the province was abolished in favour ofJapanese-style divisions.
After thesurrender of Japan in 1945, Taiwan washanded over to theRepublic of China (ROC).
_Taiwan.svg)
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The ROC government immediately established theTaiwan Provincial Government under first Chief Executive and government-generalChen Yi in September 1945.[12][13] Chen was extremely unpopular and his rule led to an uprising: theFebruary 28 Incident of 1947. Chen was recalled in May 1947 and the government-general position was abolished.
In 1949,Chinese Communist Party forces defeated theKuomintang (KMT) in theChinese Civil War, and the Republic of China government moved to Taipei. 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 seat of the provincial government was moved fromTaipei toZhongxing 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-levelspecial 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 namedNew Taipei City. The cities and counties ofTaichung andTainan were also merged, respectively, and elevated to special municipality. On 25 December 2014,Taoyuan County was upgraded into aspecial 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-oppositionDemocratic 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 memberJames Soong was elected governor of Taiwan province, defeating the DPP candidateChen Ding-nan.
In 1997, as the result of an agreement between the KMT and the DPP, the powers of the provincial government were curtailed by constitutional amendments. The post of provincial governor was abolished. In addition, the provincial council was also replaced by theTaiwan Provincial Consultative Council. Although the stated purpose was administrative efficiency, Soong and his supporters claim that it was actually intended to impedeJames Soong's political life, though it did not have this effect.
The provincial administration was downscaled in 1998, most of its power handed to the central government. Thecounties andprovincial cities under the province became the primary administrative divisions of the country.
The position of the Chairperson of the Provincial Government, appointed by thecentral government, is retained to comply with theConstitution.
The major operations of the provincial government, such as managingprovincial highways and theBank of Taiwan, have been transferred to theExecutive Yuan since 1998. In July 2018, all remaining duties were transferred to theNational Development Council and other ministries of the Executive Yuan.[14][failed verification]
The Taiwan Provincial Government was located inZhongxing New Village,Nantou City,Nantou County between 1957 and 2018.
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In October 1945, TheGovernment of the Republic of China reformed the eight(8)Japanese prefectures under theGovernment-General of Taiwan into 8counties and 9cities.
| Year | Date | Division No. | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counties | Cities | Bureaus | |||
| 1945 | 25 October | 8 | 9 |
| |
| 1949 | 26 August | 8 | 9 | 1 | Ts'ao-shan Administrative Bureau established from Taipei County |
| 1950 | 1 April | 8 | 9 | 1 | Ts'ao-shan Administrative Bureau renamed toYangmingshan Administrative Bureau |
| 16 August | 16 | 5 | 1 |
| |
| 1967 | 1 July | 16 | 4 | 1 | Taipei became the first Taiwanesespecial municipality |
| 1968 | 1 July | 16 | 4 | Yangmingshan Administrative Bureau merged intoTaipei | |
| 1973 | 1 July | 16 | 4 | 1 | Li-shan Administrative Bureau established from Taichung County |
| 1979 | 1 July | 16 | 3 | 1 | Kaohsiung became the second Taiwanesespecial municipality |
| 1981 | 1 March | 16 | 3 | Li-shan Administrative Bureau merged back to Taichung County | |
| 25 December | 16 | 3 | Allcounty seats (originallyurban townships) upgraded tocounty-administered cities. | ||
| 1982 | 1 July | 16 | 5 | UpgradeChiayi andHsinchu toprovincial cities (approved on 23 April 1981) | |
| 1998 | 21 December | 16 | 5 | Provincial government streamlined, allcounties andcities are directly led by theExecutive Yuan | |
| 2010 | 25 December | 12 | 3 | UpgradeKaohsiung,New Taipei,Taichung,Tainan tospecial municipalities, which covers 4counties (Kaohsiung, Taipei, Taichung, Tainan) and 2cities (Taichung and Tainan). | |
| 2014 | 25 December | 11 | 3 | UpgradeTaoyuan to aspecial municipality. | |
| 2018 | 1 July | 11 | 3 | Provincial government defunct, allcounties andcities are directly led by theExecutive Yuan | |
Taiwan Province is nominally divided into 11counties and 3cities . All divisions are directly administered by thecentral government in practice.
| Map | No. | Name | Mandarin (Pinyin) | Taiwanese (Pe̍h-ōe-jī) | Hakka (Pha̍k-fa-sṳ) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 that thespecial municipalities ofKaohsiung,New Taipei,Taichung,Tainan,Taipei, andTaoyuan are both nominally under and directly administered by thecentral government. They are not parts of any province.
Taiwan Province wastwinned with 42U.S. states:[15]
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ThePeople's Republic of China (PRC) regards itself as the "successor state" of theRepublic of China (ROC), which the PRC claims no longer legitimately exists, followingestablishment of the PRC onMainland China. The PRC asserts itself to be thesole legitimate government of China, and claims Taiwan as its23rd province, even though the PRC itself has never had control of Taiwan or other ROC-held territories. The ROCdisputes this position, maintaining that it still legitimately exists and that the PRC has not succeeded it.
The PRC claims the entirety of theisland of Taiwan and its nearby islands and islets, including thePenghu, 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 a part of China, that the PRCsucceeded the ROC as the sole legitimate authority in all ofChina upon its founding in 1949, and that therefore Taiwan is a part of the PRC.
TheSenkaku Islands, which are currently administered byJapan, are disputed by both the ROC and the PRC, which claim them as the Tiaoyutai/Diaoyu Islands. The ROC government claims them as part ofToucheng Township,Yilan County.
Chapter 1.
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