Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ECFA's secondary effects look more promising. In July 2013 Taiwan signed an
economic cooperation agreement with New Zealand, its first with a developed
country. The government was also in talks with India, Singapore and Indonesia.
In early 2008 the KMT won a decisive victory in the legislative elections. Two months
later former Justice Minister and Taipei Mayor, Ma Ying-jeou, won the presidency with
58% of the vote. Ma Ying-jeou's clear victory that year (and again in 2012) signalled
possibly yet another new era for Taiwan. The Hong Kong born Ma began a radical depar-
ture from Lee and Chen policies, especially concerning cross-Strait relations. Once
again, under Ma the ROC has been declared the legitimate government of all China, and
relations between Taiwan and the mainland are merely those of special regions to regions
within that country. This does not, however, mean accepting PRC rule over Taiwan.
Since coming to power, Ma has focused on streamlining government (successfully),
ending corruption (very unsuccessfully), re-sinicising society and bringing economic and
cultural relations between China and Taiwan closer and closer. The latter highlights in-
clude signing an economic agreement (ECFA) covering trade, finance, services and se-
curity; opening Taiwan to direct cross-Strait flights and ferries; encouraging Chinese stu-
dents and professionals to study and work here; and facilitating the rise of mass Chinese
tourism.
Despite years of rapprochement with China under the Ma Ying-jeou government, the
PRC currently has over 1600 cruise and ballistic missiles pointed at Taiwan.
TIMELINE
50,000-10,000 BC
Human skeletons found in eastern Taiwan and in the Taipei Basin point to prehistoric human
habitation of the island during the late Paleolithic era.
c 10,000 BC
Ancestors of Taiwan's present-day aboriginals first come to the island by sea and begin settling
around the island.
AD 1544
