General Information about Taiwan - Term Paper Example

TAIWAN Taiwan Island is situated in the Western Pacific that lies between Japan and the Philippines off the southeast coast of china. It covers a total area of 13,800 square miles. The two-thirds of the Island are covered mountains of over 1,000 meters as well as terraces and hills which are also between 100 and 1,000 meters above the sea level (Roy, 2003). Due to its location and that kind of topography and by virtue that it is crossed by the Tropic of Cancer, it has a subtropical climate that affects it in two patterns; a continental monsoon wind that brings cool, wet weather to the northern half of the island between October and March an ocean monsoon that is accompanied with rain to the southern half of the island between April and September. Taiwan experiences a climate that enables the growth of green vegetation as well as three or two rice harvest annually; this is as a result of warm ocean currents. Even though the distribution of water resources is uneven, making water available for use per capita low down; most of the times it the thundershowers and the occasional typhoon bring heavy downpours in the summertime that can be harnessed for crop production hence stable food supply(Rubinstein,2007). For this reason, Taiwan is the second most densely populated country in the world, with an estimated population of over 23 million. Majority of this population lives in the lowlands near the western coast rot the island. The Taipei-Keelung metropolitan area at the northern end hosts about 9 million people, while Taichung and Kaohsiung have over 2 million people respectively (Crook, 2010). The island is highly industrialized; this has eventually led to a steady rise in their standards of living and advances in the health and medical sciences (Roy, 2003). With the better living standards, Taipei citizens in Taiwan experience the highest life expectancy of 82.66 years according to the statistical studies of 2012. The life expectancy of women averaged 85.3, while that of men reached 80 and this was accredited to the better health and medical care facilities and the city’s policy of establishing a widespread day-care and home service network for senior citizens. This was evidently confirmed at the population of the elderly people in the following year was at 362,605 accounting to 13.5 percent of the total population. The whole population is also subjected to the health care system that was instituted in 1995. It is a single player necessary social insurance plan which centralizes the disbursement of health-care funds. The system also ensures that there is an equal access to health care for all citizens regardless of their economic and social backgrounds. The citizens have a free choice to hospitals and physicians without interference; the system also is bound to offer an inclusive benefit that covers preventive medical services, prescription of drugs, home nurse visits, dental services, Chinese medicine among other services (Roy, 2003). Moreover, the system is funded through premiums which are actually based on the payroll tax, and it is complemented with out-of-pocket payments as well as direct funding from the central government. However, despite all these achievements, the government is not giving out enough money to cater for the services provided, therefore, it borrows the big amount of money from the banks and other avenues hence almost creating a big gap between the population and the health services required(Crook,2010). Religion in Taiwan is distinguished by a variety of religious beliefs as well as practices, primarily those pertaining to Chinese culture. Most of the people are supporters of China’s religious customs; Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism those which are commonly referred to as the three teachings. All of these three teachings according to the Chinese customs have their origin, a long history, sacred texts, priests and even their temples(Rubinstein,2007). All the traditional beliefs of the Taiwan’s society are blended in the three sets of teaching; their popular religion is based on the cults of close to two hundred gods. The cults are centered in the many temples across the island. Most of the gods were initially historical figures that were brought to Taiwan by the immigrants. The gods were considered as a source of power which could be tapped through the special rituals. They were also the central point of the community, as they could bring people together so as to form new social groupings. For instance, if families left to form a new community, they carried with them a newly curved statue of their god (Crook, 2010). They formed a new temple in a ritual that was referred to as dividing incense which remained linked to the mother temple. Yearly, on a god’s birthday party, pilgrims pay their respects to the temple from which their own temples are descended. Through their travel, they trace their religions’ history and reconfirm their sub-ethnic ties(Roy,2003). However, due to the industrial revolution, many communities were civilized; they built new temples that looked a bit different to the original structures; though the gods maintained their roles of mediating community and regional relationships in an industrial society. Initially before 1987, Taiwan had a one-party system that was firmly in control of all political undertakings. However, at some point candidates from other parties could win elections and challenge the government activities, this is the reason why the opposition parties were banned. The political class was dominated by the mainlanders who were able to misuse their political powers through patronage system to control the lower level of the Taiwanese leaders. Taiwan is now a multi-party representative democracy. The constitution of the Republic of China recognized Taiwan as a centralized republic with five arms of government; the Executive Yuan, the Legislative Yuan, the Judicial Yuan and the Control Yuan (Roy, 2003). The constitution was initially anticipated to govern the whole of china. It is now acknowledged as the basic law of all Taiwan. Nevertheless, there are several challenges to the legitimacy of the Constitution, considering the fact that Taiwan was not officially integrated into the Republic of China’s territory at the time of its amendment. Some individuals have suggested that Taiwan should draft a new document to replace the Constitution. The materialization and the steadiness of democracies are directly correlated with the economic development of a given country. A connection between economic development and political participation is a vital issue the leads to the change in the social structure of a given community, organizational, as well as political culture of a nation; and these are related with the new reforms of political behavior. The informal chains consist of sequences of industrialization, education, communication, political incorporation, mobilization China has taken all these into consideration and that is the reason why her rapid economic development has overwhelmed the whole world (Rubinstein, 2007). It is worth noting that Taiwan’s political and economic developments are based on its positive relationship with China, and the effect of cross-Strait rapprochement on her domestic conditions. However, it has numerous challenges that keep on amounting day by day. It is struggling to remain aggressive in the global market and also to be able to fulfill her desires of economic revival. Moreover, it was marginalized in the major negotiations that would invigorate the economic growth such as the regional inclusive Economic Partnership and Trans-Pacific Partnership that come up with the quasi-free trade agreements between New Zealand and Singapore (Roy, 2003). In addition, China continues to be a source of insecurity for Taiwan and political leaders have got to balance the population’s desire for security, welfare and prosperity. Therefore, the relationship of Taiwan and China is, and will remain, a permanent dynamic in Taiwan’s economic and political development. The legal system provides that all civil matters related to commercial transactions are governed by the Civil Code and procedurally by the Code of Civil procedure. It normalizes all aspects of employment’ trade, agency, contracts, loans, partnerships, leases among other business related activities. In case of a misunderstanding between two groups, the Taiwan court system is used to solve the dispute; licensed lawyers are permitted to appear in courts to represent their clients before a panel of judges who will only make decisions based on the claims and evidence submitted by the parties (Roy, 2003). Foreign judgments may only be reinforced in Taiwan if the defendant was appropriately served with notice by foreign courts; if the foreign court has authority over the matter according to the laws of Taiwan; if the ruling of the foreign court does not offend good morals as well as public policy and if there is mutual recognition of judgment between Taiwan and the foreign jurisdiction. Arbitration is also a common method of dispute resolution in Taiwan. Despite the numerous challenges, Taiwan’s economic environment is one of the best across the globe, it economic freedom score is at 75.1, this makes its economy the 14th freest in the 2015 index. Compared to last year, it scored up to 1.2 points with a tremendous improvement in seven of the ten economic freedoms; such as the investment freedom, labor freedom and the control of government spending (Rubinstein, 2007). The practical macroeconomic policy within a steady legal and monetary environment has been the explanation to the rising levels of economic freedom over the last five years. The government is also dedicated to structural changes and openness to global commerce has ensured Taiwan is able to move forward to be in the best freest category. The country’s scores over time Foreign trade has over the time been the engine of Taiwan’s rapid economic growth for decades. Its economy remains export oriented and that is why it entirely depends on an open trade regime. Taiwan is the world’s largest supplier of contract chip manufacturing and is a most important manufacturer of computer memory, network equipment as well as consumer electronics designer and manufacturer. Taiwan’s imports are dominated by raw materials and capital goods, which accounts for more than 90% of the total (Rubinstein, 2007). The closest import and export partner is United States; exports to United States are generally electronics and consumer goods. This has contributed to the rise of Taiwanese per capita income level as demand for imported, high-quality consumer goods has increased. In 2002, Taiwan’s trade surplus with unites states was $8.70. Taiwan has a long historical tradition of immigration that speeded her early development. Migration to, from and within Taiwan has all responded to and helped shape the country’s expansion throughout its history, depending largely on current political, cost-effective and social circumstances(Crook,2010). For the sake of more historic developments, the country has not limited the immigration of educated foreigners, mostly experts and managers as well as their dependants from Japan, America and Europe, but strictly banned low-skilled immigration from other countries (Roy, 2003). Japan and United States still serve the most noteworthy countries of origin for foreign-born permanent residents in Taiwan, with an estimate population of about 10,000 and 12,000 respectively in 2011. Moreover, because of strong socioeconomic and cultural relations with both nations, flows of impermanent migrants, businessmen, and travelers are now important. The most single most important issue learnt about Taiwan’s economic growth and development is that fact that it has been able to open her doors for foreign investors. The country has allowed and controlled the migration of only the skilled and resourceful personnel; this has enabled them to have a variety skilled labor that is needed to stir up the economic growth. The unskilled and dependant population have consequently been banned from migrating into the country hence being able to have that number which can perfectly be maintained by the limited government resources (Roy, 2003). This has enabled the country to have a double growth of her economy as compared to the time when there were no immigration policies, where people of all kinds found their ways into the country. Therefore, it should be a trend to every nation to admit knowledgeable individuals and control the movement of their own skilled personnel; this can be done when they are offered with best working conditions, better pays and making them feel part and parcel of the growth and development of their nation. Lest they find their ways out hence brain drain. References Crook, S. (2010). Taiwan: The Bradt travel guide. Chalfont St. Peter: Bradt Travel Guides. Roy, D. (2003). Taiwan: A political history. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. Rubinstein, M. A. (2007). Taiwan: A new history. Armonk, N.Y. [u.a.: Sharpe. Read More