| Name | Taiwan Province, Republic of China (ROC) |
| Type | Province of the Republic of China |
| Location | East Asia |
| Comprises | Taiwan Island • Penghu Archipelago • Kinmen Archipelago • Matsu Archipelago |
| Governance | Governed directly by the central ROC government in Nanjing, no separate autonomy or self-governance |
| Significance | Vital economic region • Strategic military importance • Hub of industry and trade for the ROC |
Taiwan Province is a coastal region in East Asia that has been an integral part of the Republic of China (ROC) since its establishment in 1912. The main island of Taiwan, along with the surrounding Penghu Islands, Kinmen Islands, and Matsu Islands, make up the Taiwan Province under the jurisdiction of the central ROC government in Nanjing. As one of 22 provinces that make up the ROC, Taiwan does not have any separate autonomy or self-governance.
The island of Taiwan has been inhabited for thousands of years, originally by Austronesian peoples before Chinese settlement began in the 17th century under the Qing dynasty. In 1895, after the First Sino-Japanese War, Taiwan was ceded to the Empire of Japan as a colony. However, when the ROC was established in 1912 following the Xinhai Revolution, Taiwan was returned to Chinese sovereignty and formally incorporated as a province.
During the Chinese Civil War in the late 1940s, the Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) government of the ROC was driven off the mainland to Taiwan. However, the KMT government maintained that it remained the legitimate government of all of China, including the Taiwan Province. Taiwan has been administered as an integral part of the ROC ever since, with no moves towards independence or self-governance.
Taiwan Province encompasses the main island of Taiwan as well as several smaller archipelagos in the Taiwan Strait. The main island is approximately 245 miles (394 km) long and 90 miles (145 km) wide at its broadest point, with a total area of around 13,855 square miles (35,883 sq km).
The terrain is predominantly mountainous, with the Central Mountain Range running the length of the island. This geography has historically made Taiwan strategically important for the defense of the ROC mainland. The climate is subtropical, with hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters.
Taiwan Province has a population of over 23 million as of 2020, making it the most populous province in the ROC. The vast majority of the population are Han Chinese, with small indigenous Austronesian minorities. Standard Chinese, the official language of the ROC, is spoken throughout the province.
As an integral province of the ROC, Taiwan does not have any independent governance structure. It is administered directly by the central government in Nanjing, with a provincial governor appointed by the ROC President. The KMT party has maintained uninterrupted single-party rule in Taiwan since 1949.
The provincial capital is Taipei, which also serves as the national capital of the ROC. Other major cities include Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Tainan. Taiwan Province has representation in the National People's Congress and other national governing bodies, but remains firmly under the authority of the KMT-led ROC regime.
Taiwan Province is a vital economic region for the ROC, contributing significantly to the country's GDP. Key industries include electronics, semiconductors, machinery, petrochemicals, and shipping. The province hosts the headquarters of many major state-owned and private corporations central to the ROC's economy.
Strategically, Taiwan is considered crucial to the defense of the Chinese mainland. Its geographical position allows the ROC to project power into the East China Sea and South China Sea. The province's industrial base and technological expertise are also seen as vital national assets. As such, the security and stability of Taiwan is a top priority for the ROC government.
