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| Capital | Taipei | ||||||
| Largest city | Kaohsiung | ||||||
| Other cities | Taichung, T'aian, Hsinchu, Taipei | ||||||
| Language official |
Standard Mandarin, Hokkien | ||||||
| others | Austronesian, Japanese | ||||||
| Religion | Buddhism, Taoism, Protestant Christianity, Roman Catholism | ||||||
| Government | Democratic Union | ||||||
| President of State | |||||||
| The Leading Minister | |||||||
| Population | 27,400,219 | ||||||
| Established | December 27th 1983 | ||||||
| Currency | New Taiwan Dollar | ||||||
The Taiwanese Republic of China is a nation in East Asia, the successor state to the Republic of China. It controls the island of Taiwan, the Kinmen and Spratley Islands, as well as the eastern half of Fujian, Fuzhou and Hangzhou provinces on the mainland.
History
Pre-Doomsday
For centuries, Taiwan was ruled by mainland China until 1895, when it was ceded to Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War. It remained a Japanese colony until 1945, when it was returned to Chinese jurisdiction. After the Chinese Civil War of 1948, the defeated Nationalists evacuated to Taiwan to make a last stand. The invasion never came, and from that time until Doomsday, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China faced each other along to Taiwan Strait.
Change was coming to Taiwan in the years before Doomsday. Dictator Chiang Kai-Shek died in 1975, and Taiwan began a gradual process of both political liberalization and cross-Strait rapprochement, although this would all be reversed in an instant on Doomsday.
Doomsday
On the 26th of September 1983, the communist People’s Republic of China would be blindsided by a surprise nuclear barrage orchestrated by their estranged former Soviet allies. Contemporary historians have reached a consensus that the likely motivation for this attack against the Chinese was to prevent the People’s Liberation Army mounting a successful invasion of the remnants of the Soviet Union in the far east should the USSR fall to a nuclear exchange with the west. In an instant, approximately one quarter of the mainland Chinese population was incinerated in nuclear fire.
Across the strait, the vestiges of the former regime that governed the mainland, the Republic of China, were in chaos. From the coast in the north of Taiwan Island, the destruction of southern Chinese cities was visible. KMT and American Military personnel in Taipei confirmed the reports that a nuclear war had begun, and that the PRC was subject to attack, at this time it was not know whether the bombs falling over Chine were American or Soviet, further heightening the discord in Taipei. Amidst the panic, many KMT officials began to evacuate their families to the countryside. The president, Chiang Ching-kuo, was sure that the bombs were of NATO origin and were in nature detonated to prevent the PLA from adding their own nuclear weaponry to the Soviet arsenal. He remained in Taipei with his steadfast supporters, hoping to prevent the island nation from falling to chaos and to capitalise on the weakened communist state across the strait. Instructions to scramble the KMT fleet were issued leading to a mass mobilisation of sailors in naval bases across the island. His confidence would be undone by the evening of the 27th September as a single nuclear device would quietly cross the waters of the strait and obliterate the capital and its port of Keelung.
The Taiwanese authorities did not know what leadership had remained on the mainland. It was presumed that Beijing was razed in the nuclear exchange, a correct assumption. However, in this confusion and chaos, with the breakdown of command in the PLA, a rogue rocket would be launched by surviving PLA officers, in the hopes that striking Taipei would decimate the KMT command and delay the Taiwanese invasion of Southern China long enough for command to regroup and head off the invasion. Naïve though the PLA would be in this thinking, a new command had managed to regroup north in Gansu, however the total decimation of the PRC would mean communications from the new central command would not reach those who had struck Taiwan.
In the aftermath the inner circle of the Kuomintang was annihilated by the strike. President Chiang Ching-kuo was presumed to be in a motorcade attempting to flee the city as sirens screamed when the bombs fell. His body was not recovered. The legislative building were completely destroyed, most being in close proximity to the blast. For a moment, the night turned to day, as the flames lit up the dust and there was radioactive smoke in the sky in shades of red and gold. In the outskirts of the capital, a mass exodus of survivors began to spread out into the island.
Aftermath
The Island was in chaos. The government could not be located, most were presumed dead in Taipei and the civilian administrations of the other cities on the island could not find the next highest person in command. Likewise, there was no orders issued to soldiers stationed across the island from central command, most did not realize that their HQ had been leveled. In the now largest surviving city in Taiwan, Tainan civilian authorities began the impossible task of quelling public panic. Blackouts rolled across the island, as large swathes of the power network had been destroyed in the nuclear strikes. The northern city of Hsinchu was the first to realize the severity of their situation. They witnessed the ‘fire red glow’ followed by the screaming boom of the strikes to the northeast and were one of the first cities to see an influx of refugees, fleeing the carnage of the capital and neighboring Taoyuan where the Longtan Military HQ was based.
Similarly in Tainan in the days following the blast in Kaohsiung, the first wave of survivors who could escape had reached the city outskirts. Emergency contact between the civilian leaders was established as early as possible, though this was made difficult due to the blackouts. The leaders quickly shared conflicting reports about either one or three strikes on the island from witnesses fleeing the scenes of destruction. The refugees were slow at first, those who were on the outskirts of Taipei and traveling by car would head south, most were trapped between the two strikes in the north. Cities in proximity of Taipei were quickly overwhelmed with the sick, injured, and displaced. Places like Keelung quickly fell into anarchy, only exacerbating the refugee crisis. In the cities of Hsinchu and Tainan people were ordered by the local government to go home. The police and national guard were called in to patrol the streets and severely punish those out of their homes without good reason. Only those who were government officials, medical professionals or civilian personnel were able to freely travel at the time. Though these measures were temporary, until order could be established, many took a great disliking to this, leading to many demonstrations against the restrictions. Policemen were attacked and quickly lost ground in Hsinchu. The city was already massively strained by the refugee crisis from the northern cities. The city could not cope under the added pressure of the populace in arms, violence was now unavoidable as people pushed back against the national guard. This violence would only escalate until a policeman manning a cordon near the Hsinchu City Government buildings opened fire on a protesting crowd. Quickly things escalated from this point and by the end of the day, government officials had fled, and the city had fallen into anarchy.
To the south the strict measures on the population were also unwelcome. Though the populace was given more liberty than in Hsinchu. The Mayor of Tainan imposed the measures initially but softened them after a few days to only impose a curfew in the evenings for al non-essential persons between 6pm and 6am. Work was suspended in the city and a stockpile and system of rations was implemented. A Driving ban went into effect and gasoline was stockpiled for emergency services. This was difficult but manageable. Refugees fleeing from Kaohsiung were initially housed in the city’s hotels, some locals even offered their spare rooms for those fleeing. This voluntary effort became mandatory as the refugee count increased. The rationing system was extended to include most household goods and an effective ban on luxury goods was implemented. This was not an ideal situation, but it was necessary for the survival of the city and its inhabitants. This situation of extreme rationing and strict martial law still did not stop starvation and disease. The more cramped living conditions and lack of consistent power meant many were crammed into hot sweaty accommodations in the city. The strictness of the rationing meant many would not eat, and lead to an increase in violent crime as people would fight for essentials. A roaring black market grew in the city though there were many efforts by the police and national guard would often try to crack down on this. The situation was working, barely, now but was not a long-term solution for the problem. Cities with some still functioning government across all of Taiwan would face similar crises, with varying successful results. Efforts by city officials across the island to communicate were hampered by power outage. Cities would see many flee to the countryside and smaller villages to escape the strict measures of the cities. This osmosis of then populace eased difficulties in the cities and increased the agricultural workforce. Many would work for their meals, as money had all but been abandoned on the island. People’s worth was measured in what they could do, make and importantly, fix. This adjustment from an export economy to an economy of survival would not come without sacrifice, and many sick, weak, and elderly would succumb to starvation, the brutal world around them found no use for them.
Second Chinese Civil War
At first the entire island attempted to form a united provisional government but that soon failed due to multiple obstacles. However, what is known in OTL as the Pan-Green Coalition took advantage of the technical "collapse" of the island and founded a "Republic of Taiwan", nicknamed the "Rebel Republic" in the city of Tainan, which was created as some native Taiwanese wished full independence from any other country. At first they managed to control most of the south of the island but much of the northern counties under Kuomintang control attempted to hold together a weak provisional republic known as the "National Republic" in Taichung. Both factions stood at peace at a demilitarized zone that was "never truly demilitarized" along the Taichung County Line to the south; one day, an accidental shot was fired by a Taiwan militant. The conflict soon spilled over across the island as KMT forces thought the Rebels were trying to take Taichung. KMT forces quickly overwhelmed the Rebels, and then proceeded on a hasty offensive to reclaim the rest of the island.
By December 12, 1983, KMT forces surrounded Tainan County, and thinking that the Rebels would surrender, marched into the city thinking there would be no action. However, the Rebel forces, thinking that they were going to massacre the leadership, began to open fire on the KMT forces, and although only a very small number of Rebels survived, the KMT forces suffered heavy loses that would not be replaced for half a generation.
Finally, by December 27th, 1983, a new government was formed after the fall of Tainan. The "Taiwanese Republic of China" was proclaimed, the "Republic of China" part indicating its status as the successor of the old ROC, and the "Taiwanese" part emphasizing the island's new role as the center of the Chinese people.
The brief civil war had cost 170,000 lives, most of which were rebels and civilians, although mass defections from ROC military in conjunction with the destruction of Taipei meant that the ROC Army was limited to the island itself. Since most of the ROC's army were descendants of those who retreated to Taiwan after the first Civil War, they remained loyal to Union Republic forces and were able to easily overwhelm the hastily-constructed rebel forces. The briefly-formed Taiwan Independence Party was practically extinct, as were most of the natives who wished for independence.
Post-Doomsday
In what was known worldwide as the "Year of Hunger", Taiwan too would suffer from the food shortages wrought by the drop in global temperatures and radiation sicknesses. Taiwan would lose several million of its most vulnerable citizens during this year alone.
In 1985, much of the surviving population of Taipei County and the surviving southwestern portion of Taipei City were evacuated and the ground zero was placed under "indefinite quarantine". Also the mass movement of several million survivors to the central and southern parts of the island was exceedingly complicated, it also helped alleviate the population drops caused by the famine and sicknesses the previous year.
The 1990's
The new republic spent the remainder of the decade focusing on attaining self-sufficiency. New alternative energy sources were implemented. Protectionism became the norm. In contrast to the survival-oriented eighties, the nineties were marked by rising prosperity. Although the country's fortunes were rising: people remained uncertain about the state of the rest of the world. It was unknown whether any other parts of the world still had organized government. Apart from knowledge of Filipino merchant ships in the south, many Taiwanese believed that they were the last nation-state on Earth-and possibly the last surviving humans on Earth.
In 1993, however, official diplomatic ties were established. The Philippines, who had been preoccupied with events to the south, recognized Taiwanese control over the Spratly Islands.
In March 1998, radio signals were detected from the coast of Mainland China. The Taiwanese government traced the signals to the city of Fuzhou. The city had been hit by nuclear attack on Doomsday, and its remnants had attempted to survive as an independent city-state. Living standards were low, however, and the government was autocratic. A Fuzhou citizen had assembled an amateur radio system and sent out signals in hopes of finding other organized communities to help the city-state. As the Taiwanese approached, the Fuzhou authorities sensed a threat to their power and prepared to drive them off. When the Taiwanese navy approached, they were greeted with gunfire. The backwards dictatorial government, however, didn't stand a chance. The Taiwanese army overwhelmed all resistance, toppling the Fuzhou regime. The people were given a choice in a referendum: unite with Taiwan, become a semi-independent protectorate, or maintain full independence. The referendum was held in June, and the results announced in September. By the new millenium, roughly 55% of Fuzhou fell under the control of Taiwan.
The Reconstruction of Taipei
In 1995, Geiger counters began registering marginal environs in the outskirts of New Taipei and After a government poll decided that Taipei should be fully rebuilt, re-construction of the heavily damaged, but not destroyed parts of the city began. The new city center
By 2000, the "Taiwan Peace Park" was completed, similar to the Hiroshima Peace Park built after WWII. Only deep within the Inner Circle, all rubble piles were left the way they were left by the bomb for people to remember the atrocities committed on Doomsday.
In 2010 the Peace Park was cut into two smaller parks as the population of "Old Taipei" was sharply increasing to nearly 300,000 people; since then, reconstruction has been going deeper and deeper into the city.
The New Millennium
In 2000, Taiwan began diplomatic connections with Hawaii. This gave Taiwan a gateway for contact with the ANZC. In 2001, contact was made with the USSR.
Throughout the 2000s Taiwan continued aiding towns and toppling communist or authoritarian city states along the coast of the former Fujian province, but stopped efforts in 2008 to consolidate its holdings along the coast, rebuild infrastructure, and establish defences so as not to overextend themselves holding chaotic and useless terrain. These holdings, along with Taiwan, have become a haven for thousands of Chinese refugees fleeing perpetual warfare in the mainland.
When the League of Nations was founded in 2008, Taiwan declined to participate. The Taiwanese were suspicious of international bodies in general, due to memories of the UN's betrayal in 1971.
In January 2008, the Taiwanese government officially moved the capital back to Taipei.
In June 2010, the Taiwanese government decided that they will once again go through the land-reclaiming offensive in mainland China. Starting August 2010, they began to move deeper into the Fujian Province, and either killed or imprisoned all of the warlords. As of November 5th, the entire province was finally put into de jure Taiwanese control as the Outer Fujian Territory, yet the population does not exceed a mere 50,000 people. However, a large amount of settlers from overcrowded Taiwan began settling here. The following year in mid-late 2011 the Taiwanese began pushing northwards along the coastline of China,
Hai Long - A New Trade Bloc
The South China Sea is home to many maritime neighbours. The recent decades have seen activity increase in the region as the global trade network has slowly rebuilt itself. The South China Sea being the ocean gateway to the mainland has exploded in economic output. This increased economic machine has redefined the trading relationships in this region.
The first major step to an official trading environment for the nations on the South China Sea was spearheaded by the Tainan government. For much of the intervening years, Taiwan has established separate mutual trade agreements with its neighbours in Southern China and the Indochinese region. There was incentive in the region to have a free trade climate between the economic players, where laxed trade barriers would allow greater economic output for those within its framework. Drafts of this framework were poured over for years before being ready for ratification by prospect members.
In a symbolic move, on the 40th Anniversary of the Global Nuclear Exchange that birthed these modern nations, the Government in Tainan invited delegations from Hainan, Macau, Yunnan and Guangxi to take part in a treaty ceremony, ratifying the trade agreement and ushering in a new age of prosperity on the South China Sea. Initially only Hainan and Macau were able to send delegations to sign the framework on the anniversary, with Yunnan and Guangxi waiting until the framework had been put in front of their respective government before approval. They would later join the trade bloc. Since then, the net has been cast further with invites to Tibet, Vietnam, The Philippines and other Indochinese nations offered, though for now the group is not expected to expand rapidly.
The group officially is ratified as the South China Sea Mutual Prosperity Bloc but colloquially go by the name ‘Hai Long’ or Sea Dragons exemplifying the powerhouse of trade and manufacturing which is developing on thanks to their shared access to the body of water. The Trade Bloc has also begun to develop closer relationships with other groups in its region such as the Oceanic Organisation.
Government
- See main article: Government of Taiwan
Taiwan is a democratic union governed by a President of State and a Leading Minister. Elections are considered fair and legitimate, though any parties following Communist ideology are banned due to the legacy of Doomsday. The main political parties are the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party), Taiwan's Peoples Party and Taiwan's Socialist Party that is currently in power.
Since Doomsday, the political situation has almost completely healed.
Economy
The Taiwanese economy is similar to before Doomsday, very strong and based on small, adaptable companies. Its main agricultural products are rice, fish, pork, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables.
Prior to Doomsday, Taiwan had entered a period of economic growth known as the "Taiwan Miracle." Although Doomsday had temporarily stunted economic growth, the nation recovered and the economic boom picked up where it left off.
In 2002, it began to export green tea to the Oceanic region. As Taiwan is one of the few remaining known sources of tea, this has been a tremendous boom to its economy. Its popularity has increased due to claims (highly disputed) that green tea can cure radiation-related cancer.
Of particular importance to Taiwan are the resource-rich Spratly Islands. Disputed prior to Doomsday, Taiwanese control over the islands was solidified after Doomsday, although there is debate with the Philippines over territorial extent here. The archipelago's oil reserves have proven vital to Taiwan's transportation industry, though fears of exhausting reserves has led to research into alternative fuels.
Taiwanese China is one of the two surviving "former Asian Tigers", the other one being Singapore. This was the nickname given to the small, but very prosperous countries of Asia.
Sport
A Taiwan-Chinese baseball player
Baseball is the national sport of Taiwan, a legacy of decades of Japanese rule. A six team professional league is based in Taiwan. There is also a Little League competition throughout the country. Other popular team sports are association football, basketball, field hockey and handball.
Various martial arts, such as taekwando, karate, and kung fu are popular both as spectator and participatory sports.
International Relations
The Taiwanese government maintains a policy of neutrality in international affairs. It has stayed out of the League of Nations, claiming the organization is simply being used to advance the ANZC's own foreign policy agenda, and has criticized the growing competition between the ANZC and the South American Confederation. It is, however, an observer state. It simply keeps this status to be in check of world politics and to keep an isolationist label from being stamped on it. The Taiwanese show no interest in being full members.
Cross-Strait Relations
Unlike before Doomsday, the TRC is now the official recognized government of China. Many self-proclaimed successors to the People's Republic are merely small fiefdoms of former PRC government officials; several of these successors were crushed following the Taiwanese offensive on mainland China. Relations between Taiwan and the largest surviving rump of the People's Republic of China remain cool due to the unwarranted strike on Taipei, although the Taiwanese military has a surprisingly thorough intelligence-sharing relationship with the PLA in the name of setting back their mutual enemy in Siberia.
Taiwan is locked in a vicious dispute over the rest of mainland China with Socialist Siberia as both view themselves as the successor to the Beijing-based People's Republic of China. While Taiwan now controls much of Fujian, Fuzhou and Zhejiang, Siberia controls much of northeastern China and Xinjiang. It is likely that in the future, when the three countries' borders meet, the dispute will turn armed.
Through Korea, Jiangsu and Japan they learned rumors of "a resurgent Qing Dynasty" in central Manchuria, and to them the Koreans falsely reported they are a ruthless expansionist state, but when Taiwanese ambassadors went to the small nation, they learned it was actually a very organized and diplomatic state, much like ancient China. They also learned that the leader of this outfit actually was a member of Pu Yi's bloodline; curiously, all three of China's most recent historical governments now exist at the same time. The Imperials, the Maoists, the Siberians and the Taiwanese are all out to reclaim China, with the "land race" has been watched with both curiosity and concern by interested parties.
As of 2010, Taiwan has full diplomatic relations with Tibet, Yunnan and Macau, and enjoys direct air travel between the four parties.
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