History of Struggles for Independence in a Global Context: Taiwan
However, it is critical to note that the sense of Taiwanese identity, specifically the notion of ethnicity and/or nationality, did not emerge until the later modern era. As argued by scholars of Taiwan, with the end of the First Sino-Japanese War and the Treaty of Shimonoseki formalizing Japanese control over Taiwan, 1895 marked the soft beginnings of the foundation of Taiwanese identity as the sense of difference surrounding being Taiwanese grew clearer.
Notably, the period of colonization under the Dutch, Manchu Chinese, and Japanese did not model itself nor operate in the way that the French and Americans’ did during their respective periods of occupation in Haiti, so the level of extremity in creating the Taiwanese identity through the strategies of violence and discrimination did not match that of in Haiti. In fact, the dominant Japanese power sought to integrate the Taiwanese rather than isolate and oppress the way that the Haitians experienced under French and American rule. For example, targeting the Taiwanese population, the Japanization Movement of 1936 was the effort to require the Japanese language in schools, encourage adoption of Japanese names, and begin the drafting of Taiwanese into the Japanese military (Island Folklore). Over the years, as Japanese power grew in strength and in global scope, the pressure applied to the Taiwanese also grew, but this trend in behavior was met with Taiwanese uprisings and movements of resistance. Nevertheless, though strictly controlled by the Japanese, it is important to realize that the Taiwanese had the access to education, military, and society, established institutions that served as a source of empowerment to the people and a source of structure and order for the state in the long run. Additionally, under Japanese rule, Taiwan had control of financial management to a certain extent and achieved self-sufficiency in its economy and “no longer [required] Japanese financial subsidies” in 1905, an opportunity to power that never existed in Haiti’s history (Island Folklore). Altogether, these series of developments marked the unique possibilities and achievements of self-control and power in Taiwan under colonial rule.
Japanese colonial rule eventually ended in August 1945 with the surrender of Japan to the Allied Powers, also the officially ending World War II, and China claims control of the island of Taiwan, sparking controversy (Island Folklore). Met with opposition from the Taiwanese who sought to claim independence, the February 28th Incident of 1947 marked a critical moment in Taiwanese history, specifically in regards to the history of the Taiwanese nation and the development of national identity. The Incident involved the Taiwanese protests against China’s rule and ended in a “bloody massacre of Taiwanese civilians by the Chinese army” (Island Folklore). Furthermore, the enactment of martial law physically and violently attempted to strip away the existing rights and realities of the Taiwanese so to subjugate them to Chinese rule (Dawley 448). The event represented the moment sense of self-agency and self-governance were at risk of being stripped away, and it fueled the beginning of the Taiwanese movement for independence.
Simultaneously, the civil war between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Kuomintang (KMT) resulted in the displacement of members of the KMT to Taiwan, specifically a fleeing of 1 million in 1949 (Ho 31). Now, the notion of identity is further complicated as the Taiwanese aborigines exist with new migrants, both of whom share a common connection in identifying themselves with relation to the Taiwan national identity and ideological identities tied to democracy and rights. Together, they form what is known as the Republic of China (ROC), synonymous with Taiwan, with the goal of seeking independence from the new People’s Republic of China (PRC). In the following decades, the ROC emerged as a self-sufficient state, exceeding worldwide expectations for its success in financial, political, and social domains. Importantly, following the years of rule under Chiang Kai Shek and Chiang Ching Hot, Taiwan’s strong and successful strive for democracy revealed itself with the election of the first democratically elected president, Lee Ten Hui (Ho 31). In addition to the development of larger campaigns for independence, the lack of substantial obstacles to representation and participation in the political realm and the growth of political parties, such as the Taiwan Solidarity Union and Democratic Progressive Party, exemplify the flourishing of democracy in Taiwan.
The greatest struggle, however, was obtaining international recognition of Taiwan as an independent nation, separate from the PRC. To note, the PRC holds significant global power, as an individual and in international organizations, and strongly pushes for a One-China Policy in its international affairs, forcing states seeking a relationship with the PRC to either only recognize the PRC and not have relations with Taiwan or be unable to have relations with the powerful PRC. Given that context, within the international realm, the United Nations (UN) formally expelled the ROC in 1971, but its relations with Taiwan through UN agencies continue (Winkler). As a result, ROC is not recognized nor involved with international organizations like the World Bank and the World Health Organization. Additionally, as of 2022, while only 15 recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty, roughly 59 countries have unofficial diplomatic relations as a result of their financial and technological interests in Taiwan (World Population Review). Despite these challenges, Taiwan continues to thrive socially, politically, and economically as a self-sufficient, self-proclaimed independent nation who also continues to exist and advance in the global space.
For more on Taiwan history, check out Island's Folklore "A Timeline of Taiwan's History."