The Human Truth Foundation

Taiwan (Republic of China)

https://www.humantruth.info/taiwan.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#taiwan

Taiwan
Republic of China
Flag
StatusProto Independent State
Social and Moral Index16th best
CapitalTaipei
Land Area
LocationAsia
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population
GNI
ISO3166-1 CodesTW, TWN, 1581
Internet Domain.tw2
CurrencyDollar (TWD)3
Telephone+8864

1. Overview

#buddhism #china #confucianism #japan #taiwan #taoism #USA

Taiwan is an independent nation-state that first separated from China in 1895 when taken by Japan, until World War 2. Not long after, when the 1949 Communist revolution saw mainland China fall under a new government, Taiwan did not follow suit, and the original Chinese government exiled itself there. Ever since, Taiwan has operated independent of China, but, China claims it, and has the aim of governing it again in the future. It exerts diplomatic pressure across the world to prevent others from recognizing Taiwan as independent.

In 1895, military defeat forced China's Qing Dynasty to cede Taiwan to Japan. Taiwan came under Chinese Nationalist control after World War II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Beginning in the 1950s, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the local population within the governing structure. This process expanded rapidly in the 1980s. In 2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be the relationship between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of Taiwan's eventual status - as well as domestic political and economic reform.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)5

As a result of political pressure, the USA does not formally list Taiwan as an independent state, but does actively arm it for self-defense6, and China refrains "from using military force to gain control over the island". Ambassadors of countries routinely visit Taiwan when making trade deals or discussing politics, which often upsets China. This status-quo is however, "increasingly under pressure"6:

Travel Commentary:

In the past years, citizens in all countries polled for the Munich Security Index have become considerably more concerned about the risk a Chinese invasion of Taiwan poses to the world. China seeks to bring the island under its control, with Chinese President Xi Jinping linking unification with Taiwan to his “national rejuvenation” goal for China. [...] In 2022, the Chinese military made more than 1,700 incursions into Taiwan's self-declared Air Defense Identification Zone, more than in the previous three years combined.

"Munich Security Report" (2024)7

Book CoverWith its all-round adventure landscape, heritage-rich capital, diverse folk traditions and feted night market scene, Taiwan offers a continent-sized travel list for one green island. Famed for centuries as Ilha Formosa (Beautiful Isle), in Taiwan you can criss-cross mountains on colonial-era hiking trails, cycle a lone highway with the blue Pacific on one side and green volcanic arcs on the other or climb to the summit of Yushan, Taiwan´s 3952m alpine roof.

To fuel all of this adventure, Taiwan offers the gamut of Chinese cuisines, as well as the best Japanese outside Tokyo, and a full-house of local specialities from Hakka stir-fries and Taipei beef noodles to aboriginal-style barbecued wild boar.

Taiwan will feed your soul, too: the island is heir to the entire Chinese tradition of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and that amorphous collection of deities and demons worshipped as folk faith. But over the centuries the people have blended their way to a unique and tolerant religious culture. In doing so, the Taiwanese have created Asia's most vibrant democracy, and liberal society, with a raucous free press, gender equality and respect for human rights and increasingly animal rights as well.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)8

2. Taiwan National and Social Development

#human_development

Social & Moral
Development Index
9
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank9
1Denmark28.3
2Norway28.5
3Finland31.7
...
13UK38.7
14Ireland39.5
15Belgium40.1
16Taiwan41.4
17France41.4
18Luxembourg42.0
19Japan42.1
20Spain44.4
Asia Avg86.8
World Avg87.1
q=196.

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freethought #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #Taiwan #taiwan_freethought #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)10
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank10
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
16Uruguay26.5
17UK26.6
18Spain28.2
19Taiwan28.2
20Slovenia33.1
21Costa Rica36.5
Asia Avg99.9
World Avg87.9
q=199.
Taiwan performs very well in ensuring human rights and freedom compared to most other countries. Taiwan does the best for freethought11. It does better than average in supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms12 (amongst the lowest in Asia), supporting press freedom13 (amongst the lowest in Asia) and in LGBT equality14.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

4. Taiwan's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#climate_change #energy #food #germany #iceland #meat #singapore #south_korea #sustainability #taiwan #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2023)15
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank15
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Sri Lanka49.0
...
15Malaysia74.4
16Yemen76.7
17Georgia78.0
18=Taiwan78.7
19Cyprus79.3
20Iran82.6
21Hong Kong83.3
22Vietnam83.8
23Mongolia84.8
Asia Avg88.8
q=51.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)15
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank15
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
72=Chile78.6
72=Iceland78.6
74Antigua & Barbuda78.7
75=Taiwan78.7
76Bulgaria78.8
77Cyprus79.3
78Chad79.5
79Albania79.8
World Avg85.7
q=188.
With regard to its responsibility towards the environment, Taiwan is positioned 74th in the world. This rank is calculated from 3 data sets. Taiwan does better than average for its environmental performance16 (amongst the highest in Asia). When it comes to most other metrics, Taiwan does not do well. It does worse than average for its score on the Green Future Index17 (still high for Asia). And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 for reducing annual meat consumption per person18 (one of the highest in Asia).

Environmental Performance
Higher is better
16
Pos.201816
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
20Japan74.7
21Australia74.1
22Greece73.6
23Taiwan72.8
24Cyprus72.6
25Canada72.2
26Portugal71.9
27USA71.2
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
18
Pos.2021
kg18
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
165Belarus88.9
166Poland89.3
167St Lucia89.6
168Taiwan89.8
169Croatia90.8
170French Polynesia92.5
171Portugal94.6
172St Kitts & Nevis96.6
Asia Avg46.7
World Avg52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Taiwan was well above the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment.18

Green Future Index
Higher is better
17
Pos.2023
Score17
1Iceland6.7
2Finland6.7
3Norway6.4
...
42=Philippines4.6
42=Israel4.6
42=Australia4.6
45Taiwan4.5
46=Mexico4.5
47Ukraine4.4
48Argentina4.3
49Indonesia4.3
Asia Avg4.3
World Avg4.8
q=76.

The 2023 edition of the Green Futures Index lists Taiwan among five countries who are doing the best at recycling, alongside Germany, Iceland, Singapore and South Korea).19

5. Taiwan's Modernity and Learning

#education #english #intelligence #it_security #maths #modernity #research #science #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)20
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank20
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.0
3S. Korea23.6
4Singapore26.1
5Israel31.3
6Hong Kong32.6
7Russia41.5
8Malaysia49.3
9Turkey50.0
10Macau50.8
11Cyprus51.1
12UAE54.4
13Saudi Arabia58.1
Asia Avg78.3
q=51.
Modernity & Learning (2020)20
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank20
1Finland7.7
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland14.7
4Denmark14.8
5Estonia15.2
6Belgium16.4
7Germany17.0
8Czechia17.7
9Sweden17.9
10Austria18.1
11New Zealand19.4
12Iceland19.6
World Avg82.7
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2921
2Israel4.1121
3Japan3.5821
4Finland3.1721
5Sweden3.1621
6Denmark3.0521
7Taiwan3.0121
8Austria3.0022
9Switzerland2.9623
10Germany2.8421
11USA2.7424
12Belgium2.4621
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Maths, Science & Reading
Higher is better
25
Pos.2015
Score25
1Singapore1655
2Hong Kong1598
3Japan1586
4Macau1582
5Estonia1573
6=Taiwan1571
6=Canada1571
8Finland1568
9S. Korea1557
10China154326
11=Ireland1528
11=Slovenia1528
Asia Avg1398
World Avg1389
q=70.
IQ
Higher is better27
Pos.200627
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
4=Japan105
4=Taiwan105
4=China105
7Italy102
8=Iceland101
8=Switzerland101
8=Mongolia101
11Netherlands100
12=Norway100
Asia Avg90.4
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

IT Security
Lower is better
28
Pos.201328
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
...
14Peru0.30
15Latvia0.33
16Pakistan0.38
17Taiwan0.44
18Sweden0.44
19Romania0.52
20Turkey0.52
21Poland0.55
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98

6. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

Taiwan has a good long-term record on keeping corruption low, and has spent the last ten years making things even better.

World Giving Index
Higher is better
29
Pos.2022
%29
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
96=Montenegro34.0
96=Kazakhstan34.0
96=Gabon34.0
96=Taiwan34.0
100Bangladesh33.0
101=Tanzania33.0
102Spain32.0
103=Benin32.0
Asia Avg37.9
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
30
Pos.2022
Points30
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
22Austria71.0
23Seychelles70.0
24USA69.0
25=Taiwan68.0
25=Bhutan68.0
27UAE67.0
28=Chile67.0
29Barbados65.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness
Higher is better
31
Pos.2018
Score31
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
...
23France6.5
24Mexico6.5
25Chile6.5
26Taiwan6.4
27Panama6.4
28Brazil6.4
29Argentina6.4
30Guatemala6.4
Asia Avg5.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.

7. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
32
Pos.2023
Score32
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
30Bulgaria1.64
31=Spain1.65
31=Romania1.65
31=Taiwan1.65
34Italy1.66
35Kuwait1.67
36Lithuania1.67
37UK1.69
Asia Avg2.17
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
33
Pos.2019
Score33
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
52Honduras0.99
53=Vietnam1.00
53=Montenegro1.00
55Taiwan1.01
56Laos1.03
57Armenia1.17
58Senegal1.19
59Morocco1.22
Asia Avg3.60
World Avg2.78
q=150.

8. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #inequality #social_development

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
34
Pos.2023
%34
1Slovakia24.1%35
2Slovenia24.3%35
3Belarus24.4%36
...
41=Malta31.4%36
41=Mongolia31.4%37
43France31.5%35
44Taiwan31.6%35
45Canada31.7%38
46=Lebanon31.8%39
46=Estonia31.8%35
48Egypt31.9%38
Asia Avg33.0%
World Avg36.5%
q=167.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_taiwan #Taiwan

Disbelief In God (2007)40
Pos.Higher is better
%40
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
18Finland28
19Russia27
20Australia25
21Taiwan24
22=New Zealand22
22=Canada22
24Latvia20
25=Ukraine20
25=Mongolia20
27Austria18
28=Slovakia17
28=Switzerland17
28=Belarus17
31Greece16
32=Iceland16
33Spain15
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below41:

Christian5.5%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist21.3%
Folk Religion44.2%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated12.7%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: mixture of Buddhist and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%42.

Freedom of Religion and Belief:

Taiwan has enjoyed an increase in religious liberty since 1989. In that year the Law on Civic Organizations "allowed all religions to exist and removed multiple prohibitions". At the start of this period, in 1990, there were 83 religious groups in Taiwan and this surged to 1062 in the year 2004 "and the total number of temples and churches more than doubled"43.

Links: