ABSTRACT
Chapter 2. In the second chapter the writer delineates periods in its history. These are: prehistory and early history; Western and Chinese rule; Taiwan as part of the Japanese empire; Taiwan during World War II; becoming part of China again; Taiwan as the Republic of China; rule by Chiang Ching-kuo; Taiwan under Lee Teng-hui; Chen Shui-bian’s presidency; Ma Ying-jeou and Tsai Ing-wen’s Taiwan. The author concludes that early history provides grist for arguments for or against Taiwan being independent but doesn’t favor either view. The West’s (Holland) rule changed Taiwan, but in most respects not permanently. Chinese rule facilitated the argument that Taiwan should be seen as part of China, but not the way it ended. Japan’s governance was good for Taiwan in many respects. It fostered economic and social progress but it ended abruptly with Japan’s defeat in World War II. The war affected Taiwan even though there was little fighting there. After the war Taiwan was returned to China via wartime declarations; its legal status was left undecided. Chiang Ching-kuo, Chiang Kai-shek’s son, brought vast and profound positive change to Taiwan. Lee Teng-hui continued the process of Taiwanization. Both were democratizers. Chen Shui-bian gave Taiwan its first transfer of power to another political party; however, his presidency did not end well due to corruption and ethnic policies. Ma Ying-jeou and Tsai Ing-wen brought additional rotations of ruling parties but were not so consequential as originally thought.
