History of Taiwan in Timeline

Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia situated between the East and South China Seas. Its main island, Formosa, is positioned northwest of the PRC, northeast of Japan, and south of the Philippines. The island has an area of 35,808 square kilometers with a landscape dominated by mountains in the east and plains in the west. The ROC controls 168 islands in total. The population of around 23.9 million is largely concentrated in the western plains, making Taiwan one of the most densely populated countries. The Taipei-New Taipei City-Keelung metropolitan area is its largest.

1902: Killing of bandit rebels

Around 1902, approximately 12,000 "bandit-rebels" were killed by Japanese forces.

1905: Tongmenghui Party Manifesto

In 1905, the Tongmenghui party manifesto defined the four goals of the Chinese revolution.

1907: Beipu Uprising

In 1907, the Beipu uprising against Japanese rule was unsuccessful.

1911: Xinhai Revolution

In 1911, the Xinhai Revolution occurred.

January 1912: Republic of China founded

On January 1, 1912, the Republic of China was founded on mainland China following the Xinhai Revolution of 1911.

1912: Overthrow of the Qing Dynasty

In 1912, the Republic of China (ROC) overthrew the Qing Dynasty under the leadership of Sun Yat-sen.

1912: Establishment of the Republic of China

In January 1912, shortly after the Republic of China's (ROC) establishment, the government used "China" to refer to itself.

1912: Start of the Minguo era

The Minguo era system, which starts in 1912, the year the ROC was founded, is used to denote the year.

1915: Warlordism

From 1915 to 1928, central authority waxed and waned in response to warlordism.

1915: Tapani Incident

In 1915, the Tapani incident against Japanese rule was unsuccessful.

1924: Sun Yat-sen establishes the National Revolutionary Army

In 1924, Sun Yat-sen established the National Revolutionary Army in Guangdong with a goal of reunifying China under the Kuomintang.

1927: Chinese Civil War

From 1927 to 1949, central authority waxed and waned in response to the Chinese Civil War.

1928: Diplomatic recognition of the Republic of China

Until 1928, the foreign policy of Republican China was complicated by a lack of internal unity. This situation changed after the defeat of the Peiyang Government by the Kuomintang (KMT), which led to widespread diplomatic recognition of the Republic of China.

1929: Standardization of date format

Prior to standardization in 1929, the Chinese calendar was officially used.

1930: Musha Incident

In 1930, Japanese authorities engaged in bloody campaigns against the Indigenous people residing in mountainous regions, culminating in the Musha Incident.

1935: Island-wide assimilation project

Around 1935, the Japanese began an island-wide assimilation project.

1937: Japanese Invasion

From 1937 to 1945, central authority waxed and waned in response to Japanese invasion.

1938: Japanese residents in Taiwan

By 1938, 309,000 Japanese were residing in Taiwan.

1939: Taiwan as seventh-greatest sugar producer

By 1939, Taiwan was the seventh-greatest sugar producer in the world.

1940: Requirement to adopt Japanese surnames

Starting from 1940, families were also required to adopt Japanese surnames.

1943: Adoption of Japanese surnames

By 1943, only 2% of families had adopted Japanese surnames.

1943: Cairo Declaration

In 1943, the Cairo Declaration specified that Formosa and the Pescadores be returned by Japan to the ROC.

October 1944: Formosa Air Battle

In October 1944, the Formosa Air Battle was fought between American carriers and Japanese forces in Taiwan.

October 1945: Japan surrendered Taiwan to the ROC

On 25 October 1945, Japan surrendered Taiwan to the ROC.

1945: Hyperinflation

From 1945–1949, Formosans grew increasingly dissatisfied.

1945: Sino-Soviet Treaty

In 1945, the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance was signed, leading to the ROC's recognition of Mongolia.

1946: Recognition of Mongolia

In 1946, the ROC recognized Mongolia as an independent country after signing the 1945 Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance.

February 1947: February 28 Incident

On 28 February 1947, the shooting of a civilian triggered island-wide unrest, which was suppressed with military force in what is now called the February 28 Incident.

1947: Constitution and National Boundaries

In 1947, the Constitution did not explicitly prescribe national boundaries, and included articles regarding representatives from former Qing dynasty territories.

1947: ROC Armed Forces reformed

In 1947, the Constitution of the ROC reformed the National Revolutionary Army into the Republic of China Armed Forces.

1947: Constitution of the ROC

In 1947, the government of the Republic of China was founded on the 1947 Constitution of the ROC.

May 1949: Martial Law declared

In May 1949, martial law was declared on Taiwan.

December 1949: Nationalist government evacuated to Taiwan

On 7 December 1949, Chiang Kai-Shek evacuated his Nationalist government to Taiwan and made Taipei the temporary capital of the ROC.

1949: ROC retained control of Taiwan

After losing control of mainland China in 1949, the ROC retained control of Taiwan and Penghu (Taiwan, ROC).

1949: Retreat to Taiwan and Reneging on Recognition

After retreating to Taiwan in 1949, the ROC reneged on its recognition of Mongolia to preserve its claim over mainland China.

1949: Hyperinflation

From 1945–1949, Formosans grew increasingly dissatisfied.

1949: Taiwanese military aims to "retake mainland China"

From 1949 to the 1970s, the primary mission of the Taiwanese military was to "retake mainland China" through Project National Glory.

1949: PRC claims to have replaced the ROC government

In 1949, The People's Republic of China (PRC) claims that Taiwan is Chinese territory and that the PRC replaced the ROC government, becoming the sole legal government of China.

1949: ROC Government flight to Taiwan

In 1949, after losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communists, the ROC central government fled to Taiwan.

1950: United Kingdom recognizes the PRC

After the KMT retreated to Taiwan, most countries, especially those of the Western Bloc – save the United Kingdom, which recognized the PRC in 1950 – continued to maintain formal relations with the ROC.

1950: Communists captured Hainan

In 1950, the Communists captured Hainan.

1951: Agriculture's Share of GDP

In 1951, agriculture constituted 32 percent of Taiwan's GDP.

1951: US Foreign Aid to Taiwan

In 1951, the United States began providing substantial foreign aid to the KMT regime, continuing until 1965, to bolster Taiwan's economy and defense.

1952: Price Stabilization and Agricultural Growth

In 1952, US foreign aid helped stabilize prices in Taiwan, and agricultural production began a period of growth that would last until 1959.

1954: US-Taiwan mutual defense treaty

From 1954, the United States was a partner with Taiwan in a mutual defense treaty.

1954: Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty signed

In 1954, the Republic of China (ROC) and the United States signed the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty, leading to the establishment of the United States Taiwan Defense Command.

1955: First Taiwan Strait Crisis

In 1955, the Communists captured the Dachen Islands and Yijiangshan Islands during the First Taiwan Strait Crisis.

1955: Formosa Resolution

In 1955, the United States passed the Formosa Resolution, further solidifying its support for the KMT regime and its defense against the PRC.

1958: Second Taiwan Strait Crisis

During the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958, Nike Hercules missiles were integrated into missile batteries throughout the island.

1958: Defeat of ROC revolts

In 1958, the Communists defeated the ROC revolts in Northwest China.

1959: Agricultural Production Growth

From 1952 to 1959, agricultural production in Taiwan experienced an average annual growth rate of 4 percent due to land reform and agricultural development programs.

1961: Defeat of ROC forces

In 1961, ROC forces were defeated by Communists in Burma and Thailand.

1962: Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards started

In 1962, Taiwan started hosting the Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards.

1965: End of US Foreign Aid

In 1965, the period of substantial foreign aid from the United States to the KMT regime concluded after beginning in 1951.

1966: Taekwondo introduced to Taiwan

In 1966, Taekwondo was introduced to Taiwan for military training.

October 1971: UN Resolution 2758 recognizes PRC as China's sole representative

On 25 October 1971, UN Resolution 2758 was adopted, recognizing the PRC as China's sole representative in the United Nations.

1971: UN recognition of the PRC

In 1971, UN members voted to recognize the People's Republic of China (PRC) instead of the Republic of China (ROC).

1971: ROC expelled from the United Nations

In 1971, the ROC was expelled from the United Nations by Resolution 2758 and replaced with the PRC.

1972: Chiang Ching-kuo Becomes Premier

In 1972, Chiang Ching-kuo, son of Chiang Kai-shek, became the premier of Taiwan.

1978: Chiang Ching-kuo Becomes President

In 1978, Chiang Ching-kuo rose to the presidency in Taiwan.

1978: Increased Foreign Investment

In 1978, Taiwan attracted over $1.9 billion in investments from overseas Chinese, the United States, and Japan due to tax incentives and a cheap, well-trained labor force.

1979: Kaohsiung Incident

In 1979, the Kaohsiung Incident, a pro-democracy protest on Human Rights Day, occurred and was suppressed, but it is considered a key event in uniting Taiwan's opposition movement.

1979: Taiwan Relations Act passed

In 1979, the Taiwan Relations Act was passed, continuing arms sales and military training to the Republic of China Armed Forces.

1979: US Diplomatic Relations with PRC

In 1979, the United States established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC), which led to the withdrawal of approximately 30,000 US troops stationed in Taiwan.

1979: Nagoya Resolution approves "Chinese Taipei" name for the ROC in international events

The Nagoya Resolution in 1979 approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) provided a compromise for the ROC to use the name "Chinese Taipei" in international events where the PRC is also a party, such as the Olympic Games.

1980: Foreign Trade Surplus

By 1980, Taiwan's foreign trade reached $39 billion per year, generating a surplus of $46.5 million.

1984: Lee Teng-hui Selected as Vice-President

In 1984, Chiang Ching-kuo selected Lee Teng-hui as his vice-president, positioning him for future leadership.

1986: Founding of the Democratic Progressive Party

In 1986, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was founded as the first opposition party in Taiwan to counter the KMT, and Chiang Ching-kuo announced he would allow new parties to form.

1986: ROC participates in the Asian Development Bank as "Taipei, China"

Since China's ascension in 1986, the ROC has participated in the Asian Development Bank under the name "Taipei, China".

February 1987: TSMC Founded

On February 21, 1987, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) was founded.

July 1987: Lifting of Martial Law

On July 15, 1987, Chiang Ching-kuo lifted martial law on the main island of Taiwan, marking a significant step towards democratization.

1987: End of Martial Law

In 1987, martial law ended in Taiwan, marking a significant step in the transition to a multiparty democracy.

1988: Lee Teng-hui Becomes President

In 1988, after Chiang Ching-kuo's death, Lee Teng-hui became the first president of the ROC born in Taiwan.

1989: Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) founded

In 1989, Professional baseball in Taiwan started with the founding of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).

1991: Private organizations for cross-strait relations founded

In 1991, private organizations were founded to conduct exchanges: the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) of Taiwan and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) of the PRC.

1991: ROC ceases claim over mainland China

In 1991, the ROC ceased to regard the Chinese Communist Party as a rebellious group and acknowledged its control over mainland China.

1991: Taiwanese Investment in China Begins

Since 1991, more than US$200 billion has been invested in China by Taiwanese companies.

1991: ROC participates in APEC as "Chinese Taipei"

Since 1991, the ROC also participates in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) under the name "Chinese Taipei".

1991: ROC becomes member of UNPO

Since the foundation of the organization in 1991, the Republic of China has been a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), represented by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD), under the name "Taiwan".

November 1992: ARATS and SEF hold meeting resulting in 1992 Consensus

In November 1992, the ARATS and SEF held a meeting which would later become known as the 1992 Consensus. The SEF announced that both sides agreed that there was only one China, but disagreed on the definition of China.

1992: Early 1990s identification statistics

In 1992, 17.6 percent of respondents identified as Taiwanese, 25.5 percent as Chinese, 46.4 percent as both.

1992: Pan-Blue Coalition supports the spirit of the 1992 Consensus

In 1992, the Pan-Blue Coalition generally supported the spirit of the 1992 Consensus, with the KMT claiming there is one China, but that the ROC and PRC have different interpretations of what "China" means.

1993: Constitutional Court on Boundaries

In 1993, the Constitutional Court declined to define national boundaries, considering it a political question.

1993: Establishment of Constitutional Court

In 1993, the Constitutional Court was established in Taiwan to resolve constitutional disputes, regulate political parties, and accelerate democratization.

1993: ROC petitions the UN for entry

Since 1993, the ROC has petitioned the UN for entry, but its applications have not made it past committee stage.

1994: Pro-independence sentiment rises

Since 1994, pro-independence sentiment has steadily risen in Taiwan.

1995: National Health Insurance Instituted

In 1995, the current healthcare system, known as National Health Insurance (NHI), was instituted.

1996: First Direct Presidential Election

In 1996, Lee Teng-hui was re-elected in Taiwan's first direct presidential election.

1996: Democratically elected presidents

In 1996, Taiwan began electing presidents democratically.

1996: US-Japan Security Declaration

In 1996, the joint declaration on security between the US and Japan was signed, potentially implying Japanese involvement in Taiwan's defense, though Japan has not clarified if Taiwan falls within the "area surrounding Japan" mentioned in the pact.

1996: University Acceptance Rate

In 1996, the university acceptance rate in Taiwan increased to around 49 percent.

1997: ROC begins efforts to participate in the World Health Organization

Since 1997, the ROC government sought to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO).

1997: ROC begins force reduction plans

The ROC began a series of force reduction plans since the 1990s to scale down its military from a level of 450,000 in 1997 to 380,000 in 2001.

September 1999: 921 Earthquake

On September 21, 1999, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake, known as the "921 earthquake," struck Taiwan, resulting in over 2,400 deaths.

1999: Defense spending fell below 3 percent of GDP

In 1999, Taiwan's defense spending as a percentage of its GDP fell below three percent and had been trending downwards over the first two decades of the twenty-first century.

2000: Chen Shui-bian Elected President

In 2000, Chen Shui-bian of the DPP was elected as the first non-KMT president of Taiwan, leading to polarized politics with the emergence of the Pan-Blue and Pan-Green Coalitions.

2001: Agriculture's Share of GDP

Since 2001, agriculture constituted less than 2 percent of Taiwan's GDP.

2001: Force reduction continues

The ROC began a series of force reduction plans since the 1990s to scale down its military from a level of 450,000 in 1997 to 380,000 in 2001.

2002: Cross-Strait Relations Worsen

In 2002, Chen Shui-bian's reference to "One Country on Each Side" of the Taiwan Strait strained cross-Strait relations.

2002: China Becomes Largest Export Market

In 2002, China surpassed the United States to become Taiwan's largest export market for the first time.

2002: NHI payment system changed to global budget

In 2002, facing increasing losses and the need for cost containment, the National Health Insurance (NHI) in Taiwan changed its payment system from a fee-for-service model to a global budget, which is a type of prospective payment system.

2002: Acceptance of Mongolian Passport

In 2002, the ROC began to accept the Mongolian passport and removed clauses referring to Outer Mongolia from the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.

2002: ROC participates in WTO as "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu"

Since 2002, the ROC participates in the World Trade Organization (WTO) under the name "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu".

March 2003: SARS outbreak in Taiwan

In March 2003, Taiwan experienced a SARS outbreak with 347 confirmed cases. The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local governments established monitoring stations in public areas to contain the spread.

July 2003: SARS contained in Taiwan

In July 2003, Taiwan achieved full containment of SARS, and there have been no cases of SARS since then.

2003: Super Basketball League (SBL) in play

Since 2003, the semi-professional Super Basketball League (SBL) has been in play in Taiwan.

2003: US de facto treats Taiwan as a major non-NATO ally

Since at least 2003, the United States has de facto treated Taiwan as a major non-NATO ally.

2004: NHI Population Coverage

By the end of 2004, the National Health Insurance (NHI) population coverage had reached 99 percent.

2004: National Health Command Center established

In 2004, Taiwan established the National Health Command Center, including the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), as a response to the SARS outbreak.

2004: Legislative election

In January 2024, no party won a majority in the simultaneous Taiwan's legislative election for the first time since 2004.

2004: Taiwanese athletes won Olympic gold medals in Taekwondo

In the 2004 Olympics, Chen Shih-hsin and Chu Mu-yen won gold medals in the women's flyweight event and the men's flyweight event in Taekwondo, respectively.

January 2005: Direction of Writing in Official Documents Changed

On 1 January 2005, the Executive Yuan changed its long-standing convention on the direction of writing in official documents from vertical to horizontal.

2005: Abolishment of National Assembly

In 2005, the National Assembly was abolished, and the power of constitutional amendments was handed over to the Legislative Yuan and all eligible voters via referendums.

2005: Census Results on Religions

In 2005, the census reported the five largest religions in Taiwan as Buddhism, Taoism, Yiguandao, Protestantism, and Roman Catholicism.

2005: ROC government puts 'Taiwan' next to its name

In 2005, to avoid confusion, the ROC government in Taiwan began to put "Taiwan" next to its official name.

2005: Base Year for Carbon Emission Reduction

The Taiwanese government uses 2005 as the base year for its carbon emission reduction targets for 2030 and 2050.

September 2007: DPP approves resolution asserting separate identity from China

In September 2007, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) approved a resolution asserting a separate identity from China. The resolution called for a new constitution for a "normal country" and general use of "Taiwan" as the country's name.

2008: Ma Ying-jeou Wins Presidential Election

In 2008, Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT won the presidential election in Taiwan, advocating for increased economic growth and improved relations with the PRC.

2008: Referendums on UN Membership

In 2008, referendums were held in Taiwan regarding joining the UN, creating tension with mainland China and disagreements with the United States.

2008: University Acceptance Rate

Since 2008, the university acceptance rate in Taiwan has been over 95 percent, among the highest in Asia.

July 2009: Survey indicates views on ROC and PRC relations

In July 2009, a survey conducted in Taiwan showed that 82.8 percent of respondents considered the ROC and the PRC two separate countries with each developing on its own but 80.2 percent think they are members of the Chinese.

2009: Taiwan participates in WHO as "Chinese Taipei"

In 2009, Taiwan participated in the World Health Organization as an observer under the name "Chinese Taipei" after reaching an agreement with Beijing.

2009: World Games in Kaohsiung

Taiwan hosted the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung.

2011: Yani Tseng ranked number 1 in the Women's World Golf Rankings

From 2011 to 2013, Yani Tseng was ranked number 1 in the Women's World Golf Rankings for 109 consecutive weeks.

2012: Clarification on Outer Mongolia

In 2012, the Mainland Affairs Council clarified that Outer Mongolia was not part of the ROC's national territory in 1947.

2013: Yani Tseng ranked number 1 in the Women's World Golf Rankings

From 2011 to 2013, Yani Tseng was ranked number 1 in the Women's World Golf Rankings for 109 consecutive weeks.

2014: Taiwanese night markets called "best street food markets in the world"

In 2014, The Guardian called Taiwanese night markets the "best street food markets in the world".

2014: Sunflower Student Movement

In 2014, university students in Taiwan occupied the Legislative Yuan to prevent the ratification of the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement, in what became known as the Sunflower Student Movement.

2015: PISA Results

In 2015, Taiwanese students achieved one of the world's best results in mathematics, science and literacy, as tested by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), with the average student scoring 519, compared with the OECD average of 493, placing it seventh in the world.

2015: Made in China 2025 Announced

Since Made in China 2025 was announced in 2015, aggressive campaigns to recruit Taiwanese chip industry talent to support its mandates resulted in the loss of more than 3,000 chip engineers to mainland China, and raised concerns of a "brain drain" in Taiwan.

2016: Carbon Emission Increase

Between 2005 and 2016, carbon emissions in Taiwan increased by 0.92 percent.

2016: DPP Legislative Majority

In 2016, the DPP achieved its first legislative majority in Taiwanese history, influenced by the Sunflower Student Movement.

2016: Tsai administration implements New Southbound Policy

Since 2016, under the Tsai administration, Taiwan's New Southbound Policy has pursued closer economic relations with South and Southeast Asian countries.

May 2017: Constitutional Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage

In May 2017, the Constitutional Court ruled that existing marriage laws violated the Constitution by denying same-sex couples the right to marry, mandating legal amendments within two years.

2017: Taiwan excluded from WHO

In 2017, Taiwan began to be excluded from the World Health Organization even in an observer capacity.

2017: Abolition of Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission

In 2017, the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission in the Executive Yuan was abolished.

2017: Summer Universiade in Taipei

Taiwan hosted the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei.

2018: Hong Kong immigrants to Taiwan

In 2018, Taiwan only had 4,000 Hong Kong immigrants.

2018: Referendum on Taiwan's athletes competing under "Taiwan"

In 2018, a referendum question asked if Taiwan's athletes should compete under "Taiwan" in the 2020 Summer Olympics but did not pass.

2018: Referendum on Same-Sex Marriage and Homosexuality Education

In 2018, a referendum revealed overwhelming opposition to same-sex marriage and support for removing content about homosexuality from primary school textbooks, though the vote did not affect the Constitutional Court's ruling on same-sex marriage.

2018: Michelin Guide began reviewing restaurants in Taiwan

In 2018, the Michelin Guide began reviewing restaurants in Taiwan.

2018: Freedom of Thought Report Ranking

Taiwan earned a joint #1 ranking in the 2018 Freedom of Thought Report due to its lack of state-sanctioned discrimination and high regard for freedom of religion or belief.

March 2019: Scooter Registration Statistics

In March 2019, 13.86 million scooters were registered in Taiwan, which is twice the number of cars.

March 2019: Population Estimates

In March 2019, population estimates for the twenty most populous administrative divisions were recorded based on household registrations.

May 2019: Taiwan Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

On 17 May 2019, Taiwan's parliament approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, making it the first country in Asia to do so.

2019: Religious Buildings Statistics

As of 2019, there were 15,175 religious buildings in Taiwan, approximately one place of worship per 1,572 residents.

2019: Hong Kong residents moved to Taiwan

From 2019 to 2022, 36,789 Hong Kong residents moved to Taiwan. About 9,000 immigrants per year.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

In 2019, Taiwan had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.38/10, ranking it 76th globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Downsizing of Examination Yuan

In 2019, the Examination Yuan was downsized, leading to calls for its abolition.

2019: Infant mortality rate in Taiwan

In 2019, the infant mortality rate in Taiwan was 4.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, with 20 physicians and 71 hospital beds per 10,000 people.

2019: Democratic Progressive Party rejects the 1992 Consensus

Since early 2019, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan has rejected the 1992 Consensus.

2020: 2020 Summer Olympics

A referendum question in 2018 asked if Taiwan's athletes should compete under "Taiwan" in the 2020 Summer Olympics but did not pass.

2020: Religious Composition

According to Pew Research, the religious composition of Taiwan in 2020 is estimated to be 43.8 percent Folk religions, 21.2 percent Buddhist, 15.5 Others (including Taoism), 13.7 percent Unaffiliated, 5.8 percent Christian and 1% Muslim.

2020: Literacy Rate

As of 2020, the literacy rate in Taiwan was 99.03 percent.

2020: Life expectancy at birth in Taiwan

In 2020, the life expectancy at birth in Taiwan was 77.5 years for males and 83.9 years for females.

June 2021: Taiwanese identification increases substantially

In June 2021, a survey showed that 63.3 percent of respondents identified as Taiwanese, 2.6 percent as Chinese, and 31.4 percent as both.

June 2021: Public opinion on the status quo

In June 2021, an annual poll found that 28.2 percent supported the status quo and postponing a decision, 27.5 percent supported maintaining the status quo indefinitely, 25.8 percent supported the status quo with a move toward independence, 5.9 percent supported the status quo with a move toward unification.

December 2021: TSMC's Market Capitalization

As of December 2021, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC)'s market capitalization equated to roughly 90% of Taiwan's GDP.

2021: Armed Forces capped at 215,000

As of 2021, the total strength of the Armed Forces is capped at 215,000 with 90 percent manning ratio for volunteer military.

2021: Port of Kaohsiung Cargo Volume

In 2021, the Port of Kaohsiung handled the largest volume of cargo in Taiwan, with about 440 million shipping tonnes, accounting for 58.6% of Taiwan's total throughput.

October 2022: Taiwan's Economy

As of October 2022, Taiwan is the 21st largest economy in the world by nominal GDP.

2022: Military reservists numbered at 300,000

As of 2022, Taiwan's first-wave military reservists numbered at 300,000.

2022: Taiwanese Investment in China

From 1991 to 2022, more than US$200 billion have been invested in China by Taiwanese companies.

2022: Taiwan's baseball team won medals across all levels

In 2022, Taiwan's men's baseball team won medals across all levels of baseball, including the U-12, U-15, U-18, U-23, and Baseball5 competitions.

2022: Taiwan's Total Trade

In 2022, Taiwan's total trade reached US$907 billion, with exports totaling US$479.52 billion and imports totaling US$427.60 billion.

2022: Taiwan's democracy score ranked second highest in Asia

In 2022, the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index ranked Taiwan as having the second highest democracy score in Asia and Australasia.

January 2024: William Lai Ching-te Wins Presidential Election

In January 2024, William Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party won Taiwan's presidential elections. Also, no party won a majority in the simultaneous Taiwan's legislative election for the first time since 2004.