Taiwan

Fact Sheet :

- Area : 35,980 sq km

- Population : 23,036,087 (July 2006 est.)

- Capital : Taipei

- Languages : Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min)

- Currency : new Taiwan dollar (TWD)

- Government type : multiparty democratic regime

- Elements of History :

In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan. It reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the native population within the governing structure. In 2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be the relationship between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventual unification - as well as domestic political and economic reform.

- Climate :

tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year