Taiwan Timeline of Events

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Taiwan

Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following the Chinese Civil War in 1950...

Timeline of Events

1635

11.22.1635

Dutch colonial forces on Taiwan launch a pacification campaign against native villages, resulting in Dutch control of the middle and south of the island.

1652

9.7.1652

Around 15,000 Han farmers and militia rebel against Dutch rule on Taiwan.

1662

2.1.1662

The Chinese general Koxinga seizes the island of Taiwan after a nine-month siege.

1683

10.3.1683

The Qing Dynasty naval commander Shi Lang reaches Taiwan (under the Kingdom of Tungning) to receive the formal surrender of Zheng Keshuang and Liu Guoxuan after the Battle of Penghu.

1895

4.17.1895

The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed. This marks the end of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the defeated Qing Empire is forced to renounce its claims on Korea and to concede the southern portion of the Fengtien province, Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands to Japan.

1945

10.25.1945

The Republic of China takes over administration of Taiwan following Japan's surrender to the Allies.

1947

2.28.1947

228 Incident: In Taiwan, civil disorder is put down with the loss of 30,000 civilian lives.

1949

5.20.1949

The Kuomintang regime declares martial law in Taiwan.

12.10.1949

Chinese Civil War: The People's Liberation Army begins its siege of Chengdu, the last Kuomintang-held city in mainland China, forcing President of the Republic of China Chiang Kai-shek and his government to retreat to Taiwan.

1964

2.11.1964

The Republic of China (Taiwan) breaks off diplomatic relations with France.

1972

4.13.1972

The Universal Postal Union decides to recognize the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate Chinese representative, effectively expelling the Republic of China administering Taiwan.

1978

12.15.1978

U.S. President Jimmy Carter announces that the United States will recognize the People's Republic of China and cut off all relations with Taiwan

1995

7.21.1995

Third Taiwan Strait Crisis: The People's Liberation Army begins firing missiles into the waters north of Taiwan.

1996

3.23.1996

Taiwan holds its first direct elections and chooses Lee Teng-hui as President.

1998

10.28.1998

An Air China jetliner is hijacked by disgruntled pilot Yuan Bin and flown to Taiwan.

1999

9.21.1999

Chi-Chi earthquake occurs in central Taiwan, leaving about 2,400 people dead.

2002

1.1.2002

Taiwan officially joins the World Trade Organization, as Chinese Taipei.

2004

1.26.2004

A whale explodes in the town of Tainan, Taiwan. A build-up of gas in the decomposing sperm whale is suspected of causing the explosion.

2.28.2004

Over 1 million Taiwanese participating in the 228 Hand-in-Hand Rally form a 500-kilometre (300-mile) long human chain to commemorate the 228 Incident in 1947

3.19.2004

3-19 Shooting Incident: Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian is shot just before the country's presidential election on March 20.

2005

1.29.2005

The first direct commercial flights from mainland China (from Guangzhou) to Taiwan since 1949 arrived in Taipei. Shortly afterwards, a China Airlines flight lands in Beijing.

3.26.2005

The Taiwanese government calls on 1 million Taiwanese to demonstrate in Taipei, in opposition to the Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China. Around 200,000 to 300,000 attend the demonstration.

2008

7.4.2008

Cross-strait charter direct flight between mainland China and Taiwan started.