Tag Archives: Taiwan

According to collegesanduniversitiesinusa, Taiwan has a long and rich educational history that dates back to the late 16th century. During this period, the island was under the rule of the Ming Dynasty of China and education was largely based on Confucian principles. Schools were established to teach classical Chinese literature and philosophy, as well as provide training in martial arts and calligraphy. This system would remain in place until the end of the 19th century when Taiwan was ceded to Japan following the Sino-Japanese War. Under Japanese rule, Taiwan’s educational system underwent a series of reforms which aimed to modernize and Westernize it. The number of schools increased significantly as did their quality, with a focus on science, technology, and foreign languages such as English being taught alongside traditional subjects. In addition to this, higher education institutions were established throughout Taiwan such as National Taiwan University which opened its doors in 1928. After World War II ended in 1945, Taiwan came under Chinese control once again but this time under the rule of the Kuomintang (KMT). The KMT adopted many aspects of Japan’s educational system while also introducing their own reforms such as abolishing tuition fees for primary and secondary schools. Furthermore, free textbooks were distributed to students for use at school which helped increase literacy rates throughout Taiwan during this period. Since democratization began in 1987, education has been seen by many politicians as an important tool for economic development and social progress. In response to this need for change, numerous educational reforms have been implemented over the past three decades including increasing access to higher education institutions through scholarships and other forms of financial aid; introducing new curricula that focus on critical thinking skills; improving teacher training programs; providing more resources to rural areas; and encouraging bilingualism among students by teaching English alongside Mandarin Chinese in schools across Taiwan. In recent years there has been further investment into research-focused universities while also introducing new initiatives such as “innovation hubs” which aim to foster creativity among young people by providing them with resources such as 3D printers or access to coding classes. These changes have not only helped make Taiwan’s educational system more competitive but also enabled it to produce graduates who are better prepared for a globalized world beyond their borders. In 2009, the geopolitics of Taiwan were complex, with a number of different parties involved. The Republic of China (ROC) had been in control of the island since 1945 and continued to be its official government. The People’s Republic of China (PRC), meanwhile, maintained that Taiwan was part of its territory and sought to unify the two sides. In addition, the United States and Japan both had significant interests in maintaining stability in the region. The United States’ presence in the geopolitics of Taiwan was strong due to its commitment to ensuring peace and stability in East Asia. It had been involved since the 1950s when it signed a formal treaty with Taiwan pledging to defend it against attack from mainland China. This meant that if mainland China attacked Taiwan, then the US would intervene on behalf of the ROC. In 2009, this commitment was still strong as evidenced by increased military aid from Washington and increased diplomatic efforts at resolving tensions with Beijing. Japan also played an important role in this geopolitical situation due to its close relationship with both sides. On one hand, Japan was one of Taiwan’s largest trading partners and provided economic assistance to help develop infrastructure on the island. On the other hand, Tokyo also maintained close ties with Beijing and tried to act as a mediator between them as well as between Washington and Beijing over issues related to Taiwan’s status. Check naturegnosis for Taiwan in 2001.

Taiwan Overview

Official: Republic of China, not internationally recognized Official language Chinese (Mandarin) Capital Taipei Form of government Parliamentary republic Area 36,000 km² Residents 22,700,000 Currency New Taiwan dollars Time zone UTC +8 = CET +7 (no daylight saving time) License plate RC Internet TLD .tw Telephone area code 00886 (Source: ALLCITYCODES) Geography The island of Taiwan… Read More »