https://www.humantruth.info/taiwan.html
By Vexen Crabtree 2013
Taiwan Republic of China | ![]() |
---|---|
Status | Proto Independent State |
Social and Moral Index | 16th best |
Capital | Taipei |
Land Area | |
Location | Asia |
Groupings | Small Islands |
Population | |
GNI | |
ISO3166-1 Codes | TW, TWN, 1581 |
Internet Domain | .tw2 |
Currency | Dollar (TWD)3 |
Telephone | +8864 |
#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
“With 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.”
Social & Moral Development Index9 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank9 | |
1 | Denmark | 28.3 |
2 | Norway | 28.5 |
3 | Finland | 31.7 |
... | ||
13 | UK | 38.7 |
14 | Ireland | 39.5 |
15 | Belgium | 40.1 |
16 | Taiwan | 41.4 |
17 | France | 41.4 |
18 | Luxembourg | 42.0 |
19 | Japan | 42.1 |
20 | Spain | 44.4 |
Asia Avg | 86.8 | |
World Avg | 87.1 | |
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.
#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 | |
1 | Sweden | 9.0 |
2 | Norway | 14.5 |
3 | Denmark | 14.5 |
... | ||
16 | Uruguay | 26.5 |
17 | UK | 26.6 |
18 | Spain | 28.2 |
19 | Taiwan | 28.2 |
20 | Slovenia | 33.1 |
21 | Costa Rica | 36.5 |
Asia Avg | 99.9 | |
World Avg | 87.9 | |
q=199. |
For tables, charts and commentary, see:
#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 | |
1 | Japan | 33.2 |
2 | Philippines | 45.0 |
3 | Sri Lanka | 49.0 |
... | ||
15 | Malaysia | 74.4 |
16 | Yemen | 76.7 |
17 | Georgia | 78.0 |
18= | Taiwan | 78.7 |
19 | Cyprus | 79.3 |
20 | Iran | 82.6 |
21 | Hong Kong | 83.3 |
22 | Vietnam | 83.8 |
23 | Mongolia | 84.8 |
Asia Avg | 88.8 | |
q=51. |
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)15 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank15 | |
1 | Japan | 33.2 |
2 | Philippines | 45.0 |
3 | Uruguay | 48.0 |
... | ||
72= | Chile | 78.6 |
72= | Iceland | 78.6 |
74 | Antigua & Barbuda | 78.7 |
75= | Taiwan | 78.7 |
76 | Bulgaria | 78.8 |
77 | Cyprus | 79.3 |
78 | Chad | 79.5 |
79 | Albania | 79.8 |
World Avg | 85.7 | |
q=188. |
Environmental Performance Higher is better16 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201816 | |
1 | Switzerland | 87.4 |
2 | France | 84.0 |
3 | Denmark | 81.6 |
... | ||
20 | Japan | 74.7 |
21 | Australia | 74.1 |
22 | Greece | 73.6 |
23 | Taiwan | 72.8 |
24 | Cyprus | 72.6 |
25 | Canada | 72.2 |
26 | Portugal | 71.9 |
27 | USA | 71.2 |
Asia Avg | 54.5 | |
World Avg | 56.4 | |
q=180. |
Meat Consumption Lower is better18 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 kg18 | |
1 | Congo, DR | 03.0 |
2 | Burundi | 03.5 |
3 | Bangladesh | 04.3 |
... | ||
165 | Belarus | 88.9 |
166 | Poland | 89.3 |
167 | St Lucia | 89.6 |
168 | Taiwan | 89.8 |
169 | Croatia | 90.8 |
170 | French Polynesia | 92.5 |
171 | Portugal | 94.6 |
172 | St Kitts & Nevis | 96.6 |
Asia Avg | 46.7 | |
World Avg | 52.5 | |
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 better17 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 Score17 | |
1 | Iceland | 6.7 |
2 | Finland | 6.7 |
3 | Norway | 6.4 |
... | ||
42= | Philippines | 4.6 |
42= | Israel | 4.6 |
42= | Australia | 4.6 |
45 | Taiwan | 4.5 |
46= | Mexico | 4.5 |
47 | Ukraine | 4.4 |
48 | Argentina | 4.3 |
49 | Indonesia | 4.3 |
Asia Avg | 4.3 | |
World Avg | 4.8 | |
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
#education #english #intelligence #it_security #maths #modernity #research #science #technology #the_internet
Compared to Asia (2020)20 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank20 | |
1 | Taiwan | 10.0 |
2 | Japan | 21.0 |
3 | S. Korea | 23.6 |
4 | Singapore | 26.1 |
5 | Israel | 31.3 |
6 | Hong Kong | 32.6 |
7 | Russia | 41.5 |
8 | Malaysia | 49.3 |
9 | Turkey | 50.0 |
10 | Macau | 50.8 |
11 | Cyprus | 51.1 |
12 | UAE | 54.4 |
13 | Saudi Arabia | 58.1 |
Asia Avg | 78.3 | |
q=51. |
Modernity & Learning (2020)20 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank20 | |
1 | Finland | 7.7 |
2 | Taiwan | 10.0 |
3 | Switzerland | 14.7 |
4 | Denmark | 14.8 |
5 | Estonia | 15.2 |
6 | Belgium | 16.4 |
7 | Germany | 17.0 |
8 | Czechia | 17.7 |
9 | Sweden | 17.9 |
10 | Austria | 18.1 |
11 | New Zealand | 19.4 |
12 | Iceland | 19.6 |
World Avg | 82.7 | |
q=205. |
Modernity and Education:
Research & Development Higher is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 % RDP PPP | |
1 | S. Korea | 4.2921 |
2 | Israel | 4.1121 |
3 | Japan | 3.5821 |
4 | Finland | 3.1721 |
5 | Sweden | 3.1621 |
6 | Denmark | 3.0521 |
7 | Taiwan | 3.0121 |
8 | Austria | 3.0022 |
9 | Switzerland | 2.9623 |
10 | Germany | 2.8421 |
11 | USA | 2.7424 |
12 | Belgium | 2.4621 |
Asia Avg | 0.75 | |
World Avg | 0.84 | |
q=126. |
Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better25 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2015 Score25 | |
1 | Singapore | 1655 |
2 | Hong Kong | 1598 |
3 | Japan | 1586 |
4 | Macau | 1582 |
5 | Estonia | 1573 |
6= | Taiwan | 1571 |
6= | Canada | 1571 |
8 | Finland | 1568 |
9 | S. Korea | 1557 |
10 | China | 154326 |
11= | Ireland | 1528 |
11= | Slovenia | 1528 |
Asia Avg | 1398 | |
World Avg | 1389 | |
q=70. |
IQ Higher is better27 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 200627 | |
1= | Hong Kong | 108 |
1= | Singapore | 108 |
3 | S. Korea | 106 |
4= | Japan | 105 |
4= | Taiwan | 105 |
4= | China | 105 |
7 | Italy | 102 |
8= | Iceland | 101 |
8= | Switzerland | 101 |
8= | Mongolia | 101 |
11 | Netherlands | 100 |
12= | Norway | 100 |
Asia Avg | 90.4 | |
World Avg | 85.6 | |
q=138. |
Technology and Information:
IT Security Lower is better28 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201328 | |
1= | Ireland | 0.11 |
1= | Luxembourg | 0.11 |
1= | Belize | 0.11 |
... | ||
14 | Peru | 0.30 |
15 | Latvia | 0.33 |
16 | Pakistan | 0.38 |
17 | Taiwan | 0.44 |
18 | Sweden | 0.44 |
19 | Romania | 0.52 |
20 | Turkey | 0.52 |
21 | Poland | 0.55 |
Asia Avg | 1.08 | |
World Avg | 0.98 | |
#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 better29 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 %29 | |
1 | Indonesia | 68.0 |
2 | Kenya | 61.0 |
3 | USA | 59.0 |
... | ||
96= | Montenegro | 34.0 |
96= | Kazakhstan | 34.0 |
96= | Gabon | 34.0 |
96= | Taiwan | 34.0 |
100 | Bangladesh | 33.0 |
101= | Tanzania | 33.0 |
102 | Spain | 32.0 |
103= | Benin | 32.0 |
Asia Avg | 37.9 | |
World Avg | 39.6 | |
q=125. |
Corruption Higher is better30 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Points30 | |
1 | Denmark | 90.0 |
2= | Finland | 87.0 |
2= | New Zealand | 87.0 |
... | ||
22 | Austria | 71.0 |
23 | Seychelles | 70.0 |
24 | USA | 69.0 |
25= | Taiwan | 68.0 |
25= | Bhutan | 68.0 |
27 | UAE | 67.0 |
28= | Chile | 67.0 |
29 | Barbados | 65.0 |
Asia Avg | 39.98 | |
World Avg | 42.98 | |
q=180. |
Happiness Higher is better31 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 Score31 | |
1 | Finland | 7.6 |
2 | Norway | 7.6 |
3 | Denmark | 7.6 |
... | ||
23 | France | 6.5 |
24 | Mexico | 6.5 |
25 | Chile | 6.5 |
26 | Taiwan | 6.4 |
27 | Panama | 6.4 |
28 | Brazil | 6.4 |
29 | Argentina | 6.4 |
30 | Guatemala | 6.4 |
Asia Avg | 5.29 | |
World Avg | 5.38 | |
q=156. |
#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism
Global Peace Index Lower is better32 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 Score32 | |
1 | Iceland | 1.12 |
2 | Denmark | 1.31 |
3 | Ireland | 1.31 |
... | ||
30 | Bulgaria | 1.64 |
31= | Spain | 1.65 |
31= | Romania | 1.65 |
31= | Taiwan | 1.65 |
34 | Italy | 1.66 |
35 | Kuwait | 1.67 |
36 | Lithuania | 1.67 |
37 | UK | 1.69 |
Asia Avg | 2.17 | |
World Avg | 2.07 | |
q=163. |
Impact of Terrorism Lower is better33 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2019 Score33 | |
1 | Togo | 0.00 |
2 | Mongolia | 0.00 |
3 | Swaziland | 0.00 |
... | ||
52 | Honduras | 0.99 |
53= | Vietnam | 1.00 |
53= | Montenegro | 1.00 |
55 | Taiwan | 1.01 |
56 | Laos | 1.03 |
57 | Armenia | 1.17 |
58 | Senegal | 1.19 |
59 | Morocco | 1.22 |
Asia Avg | 3.60 | |
World Avg | 2.78 | |
q=150. |
#capitalism #economics #inequality #social_development
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 %34 | |
1 | Slovakia | 24.1%35 |
2 | Slovenia | 24.3%35 |
3 | Belarus | 24.4%36 |
... | ||
41= | Malta | 31.4%36 |
41= | Mongolia | 31.4%37 |
43 | France | 31.5%35 |
44 | Taiwan | 31.6%35 |
45 | Canada | 31.7%38 |
46= | Lebanon | 31.8%39 |
46= | Estonia | 31.8%35 |
48 | Egypt | 31.9%38 |
Asia Avg | 33.0% | |
World Avg | 36.5% | |
q=167. |
#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_taiwan #Taiwan
Disbelief In God (2007)40 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better %40 | |
1 | Vietnam | 81 |
2 | Japan | 65 |
3 | Sweden | 64 |
... | ||
18 | Finland | 28 |
19 | Russia | 27 |
20 | Australia | 25 |
21 | Taiwan | 24 |
22= | New Zealand | 22 |
22= | Canada | 22 |
24 | Latvia | 20 |
25= | Ukraine | 20 |
25= | Mongolia | 20 |
27 | Austria | 18 |
28= | Slovakia | 17 |
28= | Switzerland | 17 |
28= | Belarus | 17 |
31 | Greece | 16 |
32= | Iceland | 16 |
33 | Spain | 15 |
World Avg | 9.9 | |
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:
Christian | 5.5% |
Muslim | 0.1% |
Hindu | 0.1% |
Buddhist | 21.3% |
Folk Religion | 44.2% |
Jewish | 0.1% |
Unaffiliated | 12.7% |
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: