Xaverians in Taiwan

Taiwan: Country Profile

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Taiwan

Taiwan is an island in East Asia, claimed as a province by the People's Republic of China, which administers Mainland China. Taiwan has refused to recognize the authority of the Communist government of the People's Republic of China since 1949. Taiwan also administers the P'enghu Islands, the Chinmen Islands, and the Matsu Islands. The total area of the islands administered by the Taiwan government is about 13,900 sq. mi.. The largest city is T'aipei, which also serves as Taiwan's capital.

Taiwan has about 3800 plant species. Tropical and subtropical forests grow at elevations from sea level to 6500 ft. Deciduous and coniferous trees grow in the mountains between 6500 and 10,000 ft; above this level only coniferous forests are found. Animal life includes deer, wild boars, bears, monkeys, wildcats, panthers, and snakes. Taiwan's climate is tropical and subtropical, and rainfall is abundant. Summers are hot and humid, with an average temperature of 82° F. Winter lasts from December until February and is mild, with an average January temperature of 64° F. Taiwan's most important natural resource is its land, one-quarter of which is suitable for cultivation. The Chungyang Range and the eastern coastal range contain deposits of gold and copper. The island also has coal, petroleum, and natural gas reserves; marble deposits; and sand, gravel, and rock supplies.

Taiwan has a population of 21,703,304 (1997 estimate), concentrated on the plains and basins west of the Chungyang Range. Most people in Taiwan are ethnic Han Chinese and were born on the mainland or have ancestors who were from the mainland. They are divided into three groups based on their native Chinese dialect: Taiwanese (those who speak Taiwanese, also called Min), Hakka (those who speak Hakka, also called Kejia), and Mandarin. Taiwan also has a small population of aborigines who make up about 1.7 percent of the total population.

Taiwan has 12 officially recognized religions, including Buddhism, Daoism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam. Buddhism has the most adherents, followed by Daoism. Education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 15. Besides T'aipei, the principal cities are Kaohsiung and T'aichung.

Because its economy has achieved such rapid growth in the past few decades, and because it boasts one of the world's highest standards of living, Taiwan is known as one of Asia's "Four Tigers," along with Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea. Services account for about 60 percent of the gross domestic product. The most important services are in the areas of finance, insurance, and business. Tourism is a significant economic activity; 2.4 million tourists visit Taiwan each year.

Chief manufactured products include chemicals, petrochemicals, and electrical and electronic machinery. Rice is the principal food crop. Other major crops include sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, sugarcane, watermelons, and pineapples. The main timbers are oak, cedar, hemlock, bamboo, and rattan. Mackerel and tuna are the leading marine species caught. Taiwan's basic unit of currency is the New Taiwan dollar.

The president is the head of state and is directly elected by popular vote. In 1996 the president's term of office was changed from six years to four years. The National Assembly has the power to impeach the president and vice president, amend the constitution, and declare changes to Taiwan's borders. The National Assembly's 314 members are popularly elected to four-year terms. In addition to the president and National Assembly, Taiwan's government has five yuan, or branches of government. The Executive Yuan is the highest administrative branch. The president appoints a premier and other ministers and members of the Executive Yuan. The 225-member Legislative Yuan exercises legislative power on behalf of the people. The 29-member Control Yuan exercises powers of consent, impeachment, censure, and audit. The 21-member Examination Yuan handles the examination, employment, and management of Taiwan's civil servants. The Judicial Yuan runs Taiwan's court system. The Judicial Yuan consists of a president, a vice president, and a 15-member Council of Grand Justices.

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