Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1978
Chiang Ching-kuo becomes ROC president. While continuing many of his father's autocratic
policies, the younger Chiang brings more Taiwanese into government.
1979
The Taiwan Relations Act is passed by US Congress following the breaking of official relations
between the US and Taiwan. The Act establishes quasi-diplomatic relations between the two
countries.
1979
Known as the Kaohsiung Incident, a major gathering for Human Rights Day in Kaohsiung sees
demonstrators clash with military police, and well-known opposition leaders are arrested.
1984
Henry Liu, a popular writer and frequent critic of the KMT, is assassinated in his home in Califor-
nia. The assassins, organised crime members, claim in trial the ROC government ordered the
hit.
1986
The opposition DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) is formed in September; in December,
Taiwan holds its first two-party elections.
1987
After 38 years, martial law is lifted in Taiwan, setting the stage for the island's eventual shift
from authoritarian rule to democracy. Taiwanese citizens are once again allowed to travel to Ch-
ina.
1988
Chiang Ching-kuo dies of heart failure at age 78. He is succeeded by Lee Teng-hui, the first
native-born president of Taiwan.
1990
A student demonstration quickly sees 300,000 people gather in Liberty Square. This eventually
helps lead to direct presidential and National Assembly elections six years later.
1991
