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Taiwan Government 1996
multiparty democratic regime; opposition political parties legalized in
March, 1989
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Administrative divisions:
some of the ruling party in Taipei claim to be the government of all China;
in keeping with that claim, the central administrative divisions include 2
provinces (sheng, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities* (shih, singular
and plural) - Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province
including Quemoy and Matsu), Kao-hsiung*, T'ai-pei*, and Taiwan (the island
of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); the more commonly referenced
administrative divisions are those of Taiwan Province - 16 counties (hsien,
singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2
special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua,
Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan,
Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung,
T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**,
T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at
Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un
Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization
National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of the Revolution)
1 January 1947, amended in 1992, presently undergoing revision
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
20 years of age; universal
President LI Teng-hui (since 13 January 1988); Vice President LI Yuan-zu
(since 20 May 1990)
Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIEN Chan (since 23 February
1993); Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) HSU Li-teh (since
23 February 1993); presidential election last held 21 March 1990 (next
election will probably be a direct popular election and will be held NA
March 1996); results - President LI Teng-hui was reelected by the National
Assembly; vice presidential election last held 21 March 1990; results - LI
Yuan-zu was elected by the National Assembly
Executive Yuan; appointed by the president
unicameral Legislative Yuan and unicameral National Assembly
elections last held 19 December 1992 (next to be held NA December 1995);
results - KMT 60%, DPP 31%, independents 9%; seats - (304 total, 161
elected) KMT 96, DPP 50, independents 15
first National Assembly elected in November 1946 with a supplementary
election in December 1986; second and present National Assembly elected in
December 1991; seats - (403 total) KMT 318, DPP 75, other 10; (next election
to be held probably in 1996 and will be a direct popular election)
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Political parties and leaders:
Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist Party), LI Teng-hui, chairman; Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP), SHIH Ming-teh, chairman; Chinese New Party (CNP);
Labor Party (LP)
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Other political or pressure groups:
Taiwan independence movement, various environmental groups
debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of
domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased
representation of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan's
legislature have opened public debate on the island's national identity;
advocates of Taiwan independence, both within the DPP and the ruling
Kuomintang, oppose the ruling party's traditional stand that the island will
eventually unify with mainland China; the aims of the Taiwan independence
movement include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the
UN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World
United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan Nation
Building
expelled from UN General Assembly and Security Council on 25 October 1971
and withdrew on same date from other charter-designated subsidiary organs;
expelled from IMF/World Bank group April/May 1980; seeking to join GATT;
attempting to retain membership in INTELSAT; suspended from IAEA in 1972,
but still allows IAEA controls over extensive atomic development, APEC,
AsDB, BCIE, ICC, IOC, WCL
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Diplomatic representation in US:
none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US
are maintained through a private instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and
Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) with headquarters in Taipei and field
offices in Washington and 10 other US cities
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US diplomatic representation:
unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of Taiwan are
maintained through a private institution, the American Institute in Taiwan
(AIT), which has offices in Taipei at #7, Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3,
telephone [886] (2) 709-2000, and in Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d Road,
telephone [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, and the American Trade Center at
Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333
Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, telephone [886] (2) 720-1550
red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a
white sun with 12 triangular rays
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