Speech in Leskand (EN)

In 1544 a Portuguese fleet discovered the island and called it „Ilha Formosa“, meaning “beautiful island”. This was the first European contact to Taiwan. Then the Dutch established a Trade point in 1624 in south of Taiwan for the Dutch East India Company.
Before the European, the earliest inhabitants settled on the island around 10,000B.C, they lived in the lowlands of Taiwan’s western plains and along the east coast. Nowadays these tribes are identified as 12 different aboriginals; they all have their own languages and costumes.
The history of Taiwan is actually very complicated, even now we still can’t explain it in a short order. But I’ll try my best and please be a little patient, after my speech we will watch a short film about cuisine of Taiwan, and you can also try the extraordinary Tee “Pearl Milk Tee” by your own!
I hope we made this tea as tasty as it should be in Taiwan.

Just a few minutes earlier I’ve mentioned the contact from Europe in the 16th century. 100 years before European’s visit, there were already many new immigrants from southern China, these people were forced to leave their hometown in order to seek a new place to live. Usually they were illegal to travel with ship, if the government caught them, they may got extreme penalty, because since the end of 14 thc Chinese had lose their interest in ocean, moreover the government had to fight with Japanese pirates, so they enact a law to close every port, all the inhabitants who lived near the sea had to move inland.
But there were still many people who chose to run the risk, especially when there were natural disasters or war in China. Later, at the beginning of the 17. century, china was ruled by a foreign race, who was called “Manchu”. They established the last dynasty of china which was called “Qing- Dynasty”. Most Chinese didn’t accept this situation. One of the most powerful resistance groups were basically pirates on the Chinese sea. They beat the Dutch at first and build a Base in Taiwan in order to fight against China. However, they did not succeed. Qing Dynasty took over Taiwan in 1683 placing it under the jurisdiction of Fujian province.

This is not yet the end of Taiwan’s history.
1895, after almost 200 years of the Chinese occupation according to the humiliating Treaty of Shimonseki, Japan forced china to give up the Okinawa, Taiwan and the Penghu Archipelagoes. As a result, Taiwan was Japanese Colony for 50 years.

How many people have ever heard of Taiwan?
The highest “finished” building of the world?
The island of High- Tech, like Acer, Asus and from every 100 computer chips there are 65 chips made in Taiwan.
Or maybe plastic toys, umbrellas, Giant bicycles… or maybe its nervous diplomatic problem with china?
Who can tell the full name of Taiwan and China?
Taiwan’s official name is “Republic of China”, and China is “People republic of China”, should I repeat again?
Taiwan and China are two different countries, two different political systems. As a matter of fact, there are two china in this world, not only one, (but People Republic of China deny to claim the independent right of Taiwan government), but how? How Taiwan becomes another China?
Taiwan was part of Japan since 1895, even during the WWII. After War, Taiwan changed its ID to Republic China, is that also a Chinese pirate?

The truth is, Republic of china was established in 1911 by Dr. Sun Yet- Sen, the first official republic government in whole Asia. Chinese fought with Japanese for 8 years long during WWII. Finally Japan surrendered themselves after the two famous atom bombs. Then they declared to give up their right in their colonies. The government of republic of china which at that time lead by Chiang Kai- Shek took over the sovereignty of Taiwan, and very soon, Republic of China failed at the civil war against Communist which lead by Mao ze- dong. So Chinag Kai Shek and his troops retreated from mainland china to Taiwan.
One came after another Mao ze- Dong established “People republic of China” in 1949.


Actually before 1971, Taiwan was the only legalized government of China recognized by UN and Western countries.

Nowadays Taiwan is a democratically island, there are about 23 million inhabitants. Taiwan has also created an economical miracle in the 1970th, until now Taiwan is still among Top 15 of Growth Competitiveness worldwide.

The size of Taiwan is slightly smaller than Switzerland and equal to Belgium, but the society is very various and vivid. There are over 10 aboriginals, different kinds of ethnic groups from china, they all brought their own costumes and traditions to Taiwan. Meanwhile in Mainland China, cultural Revolution damaged the roost of Chinese culture. For this reason, Taiwan contains more traditional Chinese culture than Mainland China.

Besides we shouldn’t forget, there is still strong influence from Japan, and now there are more and more immigrants from south East Asia.
That’s why Taiwan is so full of energy, that your can not find this kind of mixture of culture in any other Asian countries.

And of course, because it is an emigrant society, Taiwan’s cuisine is also very fantastic and unique.
If you want to know some more details about Taiwan or perhaps you would like to give Taiwan a chance --- it means, you’ll consider to put Taiwan in your travel list. Please, this table is full of Taiwan’s Information. Mr. Balduin and I want to organize a travel; we can travel together for about 10 days in Taiwan next year on Eastern Holiday. We’ll also have contacts with Taiwan Go schools, for Go players it might be a nice experience not only to play Go indoor but outdoor in the park in the evening.

In the end, I would like to thank the team of the congress for their hard works, so we can enjoy our wonderful time in Leksand, and give us this chance to promote Taiwan to you guys. So ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention, you may enjoy your dinner and the film will be played soon. If you have any questions about Taiwan, we would be glad to discuss with you after the speech.