|RNature and climate:|N The western part of the island are fertile plains. In the east three mountainranges cross the country from north to south and the highest peak reaches 3997 m.a.s.l. These mountains are forested.
The great increase of the population threatens both flora and fauna.
Tropical climate with an average temperature of 15°C in January and 29°C in July.
Percipitation 2500 mm.
|RPeople:|N The aboriginal population is related to the Indonesians but there are only about 150 000 of them. From the 17th century there has been a massive immigration from southeastern China. After the civil war in China some million Chinese fled to Taiwan.
|REconomy:|N 15% of the labour force is occupied in agriculture, 53% in industry and trade and 22% in different services.
Agriculture is very intensive and gives several crops every year. Most important crops are rice, bananas, pine apples, sugarcane, sweet potatoes and peanuts.
There are several minerals such as coal, oil, natural gas, gold and phosphorus, but manufacturing is so extensive that most of its rawmaterials must be imported.
In the 1960:s several multinational companies invested in Taiwan. This had an immense impact on economy that since then has grown as fast as in Japan, the highest rate of growth in Asia. Most of the industry is aimed at export.
There is manufacturing of textiles, mechanics, electronics, plastics and ships.
|RHistory:|N From about 600 AD Taiwan was a Chinese territory. In 1620 it was conquered by the Dutch, but in 1662 it was conquered by the Chinese Koxingha who founded an independent kingdom. In 1680 the island was incorporated with China, but was lost to Japan in 1895, and after World War II it was returned to China.
When Chaing Kai-Shek lost the civil war against Mao Tse-Tung and the communists, he fled to Taiwan with a couple of million supporters and in 1949 the Relocated Republic of China (ROC) was founded.
From the start Taiwan was supported by the USA but when USA in 1978 recognized mainland China it also broke relations with Taiwan.
Mainland China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, in the same way Taiwan claims sovereignty over mainland China. In 1979 China invited to negotiations which was rejected by Taiwan.
