Taiwan

[tahy-wahn]

noun

Wade-Giles, Pinyin.

1. an island separated from the southeast coast of China by the Taiwan Strait: a possession of Japan 1895–1945; restored to China 1945; seat of the Republic of China since 1949. Taipei.

Taiwan

/ ˈtaɪˈwɑːn /

noun

1. Former name: Formosa. an island in SE Asia between the East China Sea and the South China Sea, off the SE coast of the People's Republic of China: the principal territory of the Republic of China; claimed by the People's Republic of China since its political separation from mainland China in the late 1940s. Pop: 23 299 716 (2013 est)

Taiwan

1. Island nation in the Pacific Ocean near the mainland of southern China; seat of the Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Taipei.

With its first free elections in the 1990s, Taiwan has become a democracy. Its economy is among the strongest in the world.

The United States long supported the Nationalists but broke relations in 1979 to establish relations with the People's Republic of China.

China refuses to accept Taiwan's independence as a nation, viewing it instead as merely a renegade province of China. This issue continues to complicate relations between the United States and China.

When the Chinese communists came to power on the mainland, the Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek and some of his army took refuge on Taiwan.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Taiwan¹

First recorded in 1920–25; from Chinese (Mandarin) Táiwān

Example Sentences

"Cherishing this moment is the most fundamental thing we can do. We believe we will retake Taiwan by 2035," he declared.

From BBC

There is one island which China does not see as another country: Taiwan.

From BBC

Together with the government workers, they were taking part in mandatory civil defence and military drills held across Taiwan last month.

From BBC

Logan then headed to Taiwan to view Smartmatic voting equipment on a trip fully covered by the company.

From Los Angeles Times

That war ended with Mao's victory and the Kuomintang's retreat to Taiwan.

From BBC