Taiwan (Republic of China)

Created in 1949, the State of Taiwan (or the National Republic of China) is a presidential republic, as established by the Chinese Constitution of 1947, still in force and last amended in 2005. The President of the Republic, elected by direct suffrage with a four-year mandate, appoints the head of government. The power to legislate is entrusted to a Legislative Assembly, made up of 225 members elected by universal suffrage and in office for 3 years. The dissolution of the National Assembly, active until 2005 with constitutional tasks, has in fact assigned to the instrument of the popular referendum any possible modification to the Fundamental Charter. Martial law was abolished in the country in 1987; at the same time, the parliamentary opposition was legalized. On a legal level, the enactments of the International Court of Justice are accepted with reservation and the death penalty is still in force. Justice is administered through a collegial body, the Judicial yuan, whose members are appointed by the president with the consent of the Legislative Assembly. The defense system of the state is organized according to the classic tripartition: army, navy and air force, to which are added paramilitary corps.

The military service is compulsory and lasts 16 months; a reduction of the detention period is foreseen to 12 months by 2008. The system contemplates the participation of women in the aviation corps in roles that do not involve combat. Primary education is compulsory and free from 6 to 15 years. The secondary school is divided into middle school, normal school and technical institutes. According to educationvv, middle schools in turn are divided into two cycles. Primary teacher training for rural areas is equated with the first cycle of middle school, while the training of other elementary teachers is equivalent to the second cycle of middle school. The specialized technical institutes have 2 cycles, one lower and one higher. In the country there are numerous universities and several independent colleges. The percentage of illiterate people is particularly low: in 2005 it stood at 2.8%, almost halved compared to the estimate recorded ten years earlier.

ENVIRONMENT

The spontaneous vegetation has been partially destroyed, above all due to the recent thickening of the population, but it is still present in its original luxuriant form, especially on the eastern mountainous slopes; the most typical and widespread species are the lauraceae, the bamboos and the camphor tree. Over 2000 m there are conifer woods and, near the peaks, pastures and shrubs. The different types of forest, especially the less inhabited mountainous areas, are home to a great variety of fauna: mammals (Formosan brown bear, macaque, wild boar, sika, pangolin, sambar), birds (pheasant, sparrow), reptiles, amphibians (Formosa salamander, various species of frog), insects; territorial waters are rich in fish. Some protected species are subject to illegal trade. The frenetic growth of industry, starting from the 1950s, initially accompanied by a lack of ecological sensitivity, has caused extensive damage to the environment: air and water pollution and groundwater contamination due to illicit disposal. of radioactive waste, although since the 1990s the authorities have passed laws aimed at safeguarding the natural heritage and established sustainable development policies. 18.8% of the country is considered a protected area; in particular, 6 national parks have been created, several nature reserves, naturalistic shelters,

ECONOMY

The tertiary sector is the largest voice of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce. Banking, financial and insurance services are highly developed and Taiwan is one of the largest business centers in Asia. Due to the now high standard of living achieved by the country, internal trade is quite lively. Foreign trade is essential for the Taiwanese economy; the country mainly exports electrical and electronic equipment, machinery, optical and precision instruments, mining products (iron, steel, copper), plastic objects, dolls and toys, sports equipment, clothing, while it mainly imports oil, machinery and means of transport, minerals, agricultural products. The trade balance is constantly in surplus; the exchange takes place eminently with the United States, China, Japan and South Korea, followed by Saudi Arabia (for oil imports); exports are also directed towards Hong Kong, which has long been the leading market also because it acted as an intermediary in relations with China, and some countries of the European Union. The morphology of the island hinders communications, which are lacking, especially between the coasts and inland areas. The railways follow the coastal contour and cover a total of 4,600 km (of which, however, only a little more than a thousand are national railways); the most important section is the one that runs along the island on the western side, from Keelung to N to Kaohsiung to S. The situation is better with regard to the road network (approx. 37,000 km, mostly asphalted, in 2002). Maritime transport has been developed, which mainly refer to the four international ports of Kaohsiung, Chilung, Taichung and Hualien. Taiwan also strengthened its airport structure; the international airport of Taoyuan, near T’aipei, joins the international ones of Kaohsiung and Hualien as well as various national airports. Tourism is developing strongly: the island has been visited every year for approx. 2.8 million foreigners (2005). The government has launched programs to promote the country’s natural and historical wealth; the 2008 Beijing Olympics are an important step in this program. Kaohsiung and Hualien as well as various domestic airports. Tourism is developing strongly: the island has been visited every year for approx. 2.8 million foreigners (2005). The government has launched programs to promote the country’s natural and historical wealth; the 2008 Beijing Olympics are an important step in this program. Kaohsiung and Hualien as well as various domestic airports. Tourism is developing strongly: the island has been visited every year for approx. 2.8 million foreigners (2005). The government has launched programs to promote the country’s natural and historical wealth; the 2008 Beijing Olympics are an important step in this program.