| |
|
Useful Information about Taiwan
INTRODUCTION |
Background: |
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. |
GEOGRAPHY |
Area: |
total: 35,980 sq km
note: includes the Pescadores,
Matsu, and Quemoy
water: 3,720 sq km
land: 32,260 sq km |
Area - comparitive: |
slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined |
Coastline: |
1,566.3 km |
Climate: |
tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June
to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year |
Terrain: |
eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently
rolling plains in west |
Elevation Extremes: |
lowest point: South China Sea 0
m
highest point: Yu Shan 3,952
m |
Natural Resources: |
small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and
asbestos |
Natural Hazards: |
earthquakes, typhoons |
PEOPLE |
Population: |
22,603,001 (July 2003 est.) |
Population Growth Rate: |
0.65% (2003 est.) |
Birth Rate: |
12.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Death Rate: |
6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Religions: |
mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian
4.5%, other 2.5% |
Languages: |
Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
|
GOVERNMENT |
Government Type: |
multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly-elected president
and unicameral legislature |
Capital: |
Taipei |
National Holiday: |
Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October
(1911) |
Constitution: |
1 January 1947, amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, and 1999 |
Legal System: |
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations |
ECONOMY |
Economy Overview: |
Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing
guidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities.
In keeping with this trend, some large government-owned banks
and industrial firms are being privatized. Exports have provided
the primary impetus for industrialization. The trade surplus
is substantial, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest.
Agriculture contributes 2% to GDP, down from 32% in 1952. While
Taiwan is a major investor throughout Southeast Asia, China
has become the largest destination for investment and has overtaken
the US to become Taiwan's largest export market. Because of
its conservative financial approach and its entrepreneurial
strengths, Taiwan suffered little compared with many of its
neighbors from the Asian financial crisis in 1998. The global
economic downturn, combined with problems in policy coordination
by the administration and bad debts in the banking system, pushed
Taiwan into recession in 2001, the first year of negative growth
ever recorded. Unemployment also reached record levels. Output
recovered moderately in 2002 in the face of continued global
slowdown, fragile consumer confidence, and bad bank loans. Growing
economic ties with China are a dominant long-term factor. Exports
to China - mainly parts and equipment for the assembly of goods
for export to developed countries - drove Taiwan's economic
recovery in 2002. |
GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $406 billion (2002 est.) |
GDP - Real Growth Rate: |
3.5% (2002 est.) |
GDP - Per Capita: |
purchasing power parity - $18,000 (2002 est.) |
GDP - Composition by Sector: |
agriculture: 2%
industry: 31%
services: 67% (2002 est.) |
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices): |
-0.2% (2002 est.) |
Labor Force: |
10 million (2002 est.) |
Labor Force by Occupation: |
services 58%, industry 35%, agriculture 7% (2002 est.) |
Unemployment Rate: |
5.2% (2002 est.) |
Industries: |
electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron
and steel, machinery, cement, food processing |
Exports: |
$130 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
Exports - Commodities: |
machinery and electrical equipment 54%, metals, textiles,
plastics, chemicals (2002) |
Export Partners: |
US 22.5%, Hong Kong 22.0%, Japan 10.4%, Germany 3.6% note::
Taiwan's exports to China include Taiwan government estimates
of the proportion of exports that travel via Hong Kong (2002) |
Imports: |
$113 billion f.o.b. (2002) |
Imports - Commodities: |
machinery and electrical equipment 44.5%, minerals, precision
instruments (2002) |
Imports - Partners: |
Japan 24.2%, US 16.1%, Europe 13.0%, China 7.1%, South Korea
6.9% (2002) |
Currency: |
new Taiwan dollar (TWD) |
back to top |
|
 |
Request
a shipping quote NOW! |
|
 |
|
|
|
Cargocare
(Taiwan) Ltd., 7 / F - 3, No. 415, Hsin
Yi Road, Section 4, Taipei, Taiwan, 110
TEL:
886-2-27584095 | FAX: 886-2-27296936 | taipei@cargocare.com
©
Copyright 1989-2004 Cargocare
(Taiwan) Ltd.
Leading international freight forwarders
offering experienced ocean and air cargo
forwarding and logistics services between Taiwan, China, and Europe -
Choose
the best freight forwarder agents for your shipments; choose Cargocare
|
