Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1945
After Japan's defeat in WWII, Taiwan is placed under administrative control of Chiang Kai-shek's
Republic of China. Taiwan's social order is thrown into chaos.
1947
A clash between a black market cigarette vendor and Monopoly Bureau agents leads to an is-
landwide revolt against KMT rule. This becomes known as the 2-28 Massacre.
1949
The Nationalist army is driven from mainland China by the communists. Chiang Kai-shek moves
the ROC government to Taiwan with the intention of using the island as a base to retake the
mainland.
1951
Japan signs the Treaty of San Francisco, formally relinquishing all claims to Taiwan and its sur-
rounding islands. However, the treaty does not cede Taiwan to another country.
1954
The First Taiwan Strait Crisis begins when the People's Liberation Army (PLA) shells ROC-occu-
pied Kinmen and Matsu. The conflict leads to the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty.
1958
The Second Taiwan Strait Crisis erupts when the PLA again attempts to seize Kinmen and
Matsu from the ROC. Despite intense shelling the ROC maintains control of the islands.
1971
UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 transfers the UN seat from the Republic of China to the
People's Republic of China. The UN no longer recognises the ROC as a sovereign nation.
1975
Chiang Kai-shek dies aged 87; the government declares a month of mourning and Chiang's
body is entombed in his former residence in Taoyuan County.
1976
Taiwanese Stan Shih starts a small company called Multitech in Hsinchu with his wife and an in-
vestment of US$25,000. Later renamed Acer, the company goes on to become a global com-
puter producer.
