Island of Taiwan

The geography of the island of Taiwan poses triples it question of the physical Géographie, the biological Géographie and agricultural, and of the human Geography (populations, infrastructures).

The physical geography of Taiwan is dissociated by a mountainous chain young and acute (until 3.997m), directed north-north-east/south-south-east, and located in the east of the island, while the 1/3 west is a small crossed NORTH-SOUTH plain of west in is by many small brooks and rivers. The biological geography is dominated by the Riziculture and the cultures maraicagères in the western plain, while the first mountainsides are more favorable to the cultures of shrubs and fruit-bearing S: Tea plant S, Apple tree S, To fish S, etc, altitude in addition providing temperatures favorable to the cultures of moderate varieties. The sides more abrupt and the mountainous solid mass of the east remain the field of wild, but sometimes exploited staged forests.

The human geography follows these two preceding geographies. The 23 million Taiwanese occupies the western plain mainly, largely urbanized in quasi a Mégalopole of a density of more than 1000 h/km ². This space is polarized by Taipei (台北, py: Táibĕi, 2 million hab.) and its urbanized basin; by Kaohsiung (高雄, py: Gāoxióng, 1 million hab.) in the south-south-west of the island; and by the complex Taichung - Changhua (台中, py: Táizhōng; 彰化, py: Zhānghuà, approximately 1 million hab.). This human plain is mainly crossed by North-South roads, in particular two Autoroute S, and a line of trains at high speed Taipei-Kaoshiung. One second older railway line makes the turn of the island, while some tortuous roads crosses of south-west in the North-East the mountainous chains in order to join isolated the Pacifique coast more directly. Taiwan also announces itself by the dynamism of its ports, in particular the Port of Kaohsiung and that of Keelung (py: Jilong).

At the planetary level, this Ilha Formosa (“Beautiful island”, name given by Portuguese) is an oval island of 370 km NORTH-SOUTH and approximately 140 km western/, are located at the east of the China, in the Pacific Ocean. She is also regarded as being the geological continuity of the Japanese Archipel. The island is subjected in the passing of Typhon S and the Mousson S.

Introduction

“Three Dragons” Taiwan is the first by its power, before the South Korea and Singapore. He became the 12th world exporter, the 3rd owner of currencies, the 2nd investor of the Asian frontage and the 6th investor of the world. But it undergoes two major handicaps:

* the exiguity of the territory with less than 36000 km ². A mountainous island, with its top culminating in 3997 m, Yushan, located at approximately 50 km of the sea.

* Taiwan undergoes a diplomatic insulation since its ousting of UNO in 1971 according to the joint will of Beijing and of the the United States.

A Chinese Ground?

A marginalized indigenous population

The massive emigration of Han as from the 17th century

The first Chinese colony on the island was founded in 1206, but the Chinese Empire regarded it as an insular territory without interest. The Portuguese discovered it in 1590 and baptized it “Ilha Formosa”, today Taiwan. At the beginning of the 17th century, when the Dutchmen took foot, they did not count that approximately thousands of Chinese mainly trade and farmers.

In 1661, the admiral Zheng Chenggong unloaded on the island with 30.000 men to drive out the Dutchmen and especially to make island the base camp of the reconquest of the continent to the profit of the Legitimists Ming driven out by the Manchus (it was a failure because 20 years after, the Manchus seized some). Ming were made up mainly of civils servant and well-read men and their militia. Only the well-read men - approximately 1000 - were truly active: they learned Chinese with the autochtones. It was the beginning of the sinicization of Taiwan.

In 1730, the emigration of Han, prohibited in 1390 by an imperial edict, D-was authorized by the Qing. Thus at the end of the 19th century Taiwan counted more than 2.500.000 inhabitants. In 1895, the Japanese annexed the island and the emigration stopped clear. This being, they did not follow a true policy of settlement. Also, at the time of the capitulation (Second world war), only 200.000 Japanese lived there. They all were repatriated.

Today the 2/3 of the Han population are the descendants of the emigrants “Hokkien” of the area of Xiamen (in the Fujian). The remainder descend from the “Hakka S” people come from the north from China which migrated by stages to the solid masses bordering on the Shanxi, Fujian and Guangdong, before constituting, at the beginning of the 19th century, a powerful hearth of emigration towards Taiwan.

Aboriginals

A very strong population density

An exceptional but controlled population growth

An unequal distribution of the population

She is the result of strong natural constraints. An empty mountain and even over-populated plains populated (on the coast, in north and the west; in valley in the east). It is especially concentrated in north, more close to Japan: in the history Japanese supported, for reasons of proximity, the surface of Taipei. From now on the Western plains have an average density of 1400 habitants/km ² (against 610 hab. /km ² of average density in all the country).

The Eastern edge of the mountainous chains dominates an extremely reduced littoral plain even non-existent (cliffs), while the Western edge opens on a rather broad plain (15 to 50 km). It is thus the latter which gathers the essence of the population, that is to say more than 95%; (then 2% in the mountain, and 3% in the Eastern plain. The most urbanized area is that of Taipei (5 million hab.), including the capital (3.5 million), then that of Kaoshiung and that of Taichung (city even: more than 1.5 million hab.).

In the years 1960, the government had undertaken a policy of rebalances which largely bore its fruits. In 1961, a heavy programme of infrastructure in Kaohsiung was undertaken, and in 1969 in Taichung. In addition it supports the activity of the medium-sized cities ranging between these 3 poles by establishing industrial parks. The consequence of this political volunteer is a spectacular urban change. Since 1950, the proportion of the townsmen in the cities of more than 25 thousand habts. is from 30 to 70%. In parallel, the rural migration, even slowed down by the effects of the land reform and industrialization of the campaigns, involved, at the beginning of the Années 1970, the prevalence of the townsmen on the rural ones: they do not represent from now on any more that 25% of the population (in 1952 the only agricultural credits counted 55%).

Agricultural rise and its limits

A favorable climate

A climate tropical in the south, subtropical in north

The subtropical climate at two seasons (season dries and wet season) relates to the 3/4 of the southernmost part of Taiwan. The 1/4 septentrional one is subtropical.

Taiwan is cut by the Tropic of Cancer: it is thus the tropical Climat at rain season which dominates (rain being present especially in the areas of monsoons).

The characteristics of tropical climate at two seasons are:

of the high temperatures (average of 21°C; above 35°C in July and 30°C July to September) are explained by its position in latitude but also by the current “kuro-shio” (running hot passing through Philippines, Taiwan, then Japan).
Of the important precipitations (higher than 2500 mm), explained by the Monsoon and the presence of mountainous chains supporting the ascents.
Of the strong winds related to the depressions, sometimes same of the cyclones, called “typhoons” in Asia. They touch only the Eastern frontage of Taiwan.
From a regional point of view, precipitations as the temperatures decrease by the south towards north. Moreover areas in position of shelters (inner basins and intramontane valleys) are sprinkled and have a ATA (Annual Thermal Amplitude) less full. The 1/4 of the south undergoes periods of temperatures lower than 18°C; precipitations are moderate there: they fall mainly in winter, related to monsoon (single anomaly between monsoon and the rain). The mountains have temperatures of 10 with 12°C of average in January for the high parts of the chains (+3000 m); it freezes and snows each year. They is in any case with the slopes with the wind that precipitations are most abundant, always higher than 500 mm even to 1000 mm, only in July.

The mode of monsoons

Monsoon is a seasonal wind of the Southern Asia and Indian Ocean. In winter, it blows of the North-West in south-east, between a cell of subtropical high pressures and the low equatorial pressures. It involves the rains in the north of the island. In summer, a field of low pressures is formed at sea of southernmost China and attracts flows, including currents, here alysées: a regular wind blows above the oceans between the subtropical high pressures and the low equatorial pressures coming from the southern hemisphere, then turning towards the line under the effect of the Coriolis force. It involves very long downpours, and at the end of the autumn of the typhoons.

An intensive agriculture and modern

Retreat of rice

Rice occupies approximately half of the surface cultivated and this proportion is in retreat. On the one hand Taiwan is for a long time autosubsistant out of rice and on the other hand the consumption of rice decreases (modification of the food mode of people). In addition export would have a poor profitability (little added-value). Contrary to corn or corn, rice can be mended (system of dépiquage/road repair) what has as a consequence an even triple double collects annual. When rice is not mended, one cultivates the cane with sugar and the cultures known as dry or rain. It is the system of “farming rotation” practiced in the Western southern plain and the two Eastern lengthened plains. For example, during the three winter months the vegetables replace rice: fodder kales, carrots, beans (of which soya). The field is divided into pieces called “willows” (system of assaulement).

Rice needs to be irrigated during the monsoon of winter: very many stoppings tanks were thus built in mountain. Agriculture is very largely mechanized. Lastly, there was immense progress in the selection of the seeds and the introduction of hybrid varieties, and also of rice GMO.

Progress of the mixed-farming and the breeding

The vegetables constitute a notable share of the food. They are cultures in assaulement or association, within the framework of a a long time food agriculture (complant). They are the market-gardening belts surrounding the agglomerations, where the “farms are”, specialized in vegetables and mushrooms. The culture is very intensive there: the farms practice an agriculture out-ground with indeed 15 to 20 annual harvests.

The orchards extend on the nonrice territories, the fields of hills and the piémonts. South-west is the field of the plantations. These last years, the production dropped with the profit of the citrus fruits (tangerine, orange and lemon). They are especially cultivated in the subtropics. Moreover, these last years, the rice growers supplement their incomes thanks to nut of bétel (fruit of the palm tree). Unfortunately this culture has serious disadvantages: very consuming water, it endangers the water tables. Moreover, it consumes many minerals, which impoverishes the ground. The authorities thus try to reduce the production of it. These same areas produce also the, and are directed more and more towards quality.

Lastly, the 3rd field is the mountain, with the culture of moderate fruit trees (apple trees, pear trees, plum trees, pêchers) under development, just like the request (but the prices remain expensive). The orchards take the shape of clearings open in the forest up to 2000 m of altitude. In addition, the forest is exploited for its invaluable wood, in particular the camphor tree. The breeding, like everywhere in the Chinese world, is founded on the pig and the poultry (duck, goose, chicken, pigeon). It is practiced in all the areas and has a regular growth. Even if the porcine breeding from now on is competed with by exports of the RPC, that of the Bovidae (bovine, and especially the milch cows. But retreat for the buffaloes which the peasants do not use much any more) progresses.

Importance of fishing

The products of the sea associated with rice and vegetables constitute the food base of the Taiwaneses. Progress of fishing is considerable so much so that the volume of the catches exceeded that of France. The high-sea fishing (in open sea) accounts for 50% of the catches (macro, long fin tuna…). The remainder is divided between littoral and coastal fishing (many flat fish, squids, dries…). A long time these fish benches were supported by the hot current Kuroshio. From now on surpêche weakens them. The fleet counts 10000 boats which wet in 200 ports.

Volume remaining (20%) concerns pisciculture (breeding), either out of piscicultural fresh water and basins, or out of sea water.

The land reform

1955, the kickoff of the reform

The authorities are leaning on the land question under the pressure of HAVE (and more precisely of the CIA, under penalty of not helping them) and that not to renew the error of the nationalists about the continent when their refusal of any reform brings the farming community to the Communists. It is true that the inequalities was shouting. 35% of the peasants were operating owners; the others were either sharecroppers, subjected to transfer up to 80% their harvests, or farm laborers.

In 1951, the grounds dominiales are sold at low prices to the sharecroppers. Then in 1953 a division of the grounds is decided: any owner having more than 3 ha of irrigated rice plantations and more than 6 ha of rain cultures is constrained to sell the surplus in the State which redistributes it with the remaining sharecroppers (who could not buy grounds) and with the farm laborers. The result is spectacular: in 1960, more than 60% of the grounds were in FVD; in 1900, more than 85%. In same time, the government supports the rise of the banks of agricultural credit, subsidizes the cultures of export, and organizes the training of the farmers. The increase in the production is also remarkable: between 1952 and 1960, it increased of more than 30% for the cultures and more than 70% for the breeding.

Initial successes, current limits

If successes are undeniable, this land reform is victim of its success. Based on the individual small-scale farming, it butts today against a serious land crumbling since with each succession the ground is parcelled out with equal shares between the children. Moreover, certain farm laborers, even the sharecroppers, did not have the cultural means for an effective development. At all events, on average, each property is only of 109 Are S and consequently nourishes with difficulty the peasants in spite of the exceptional labor productivity. The consequence is that today more than 80% of the peasants are part-time.

The parcelling worked by a entrelas of boats and drains cuts out the soil in miniature pieces (sometimes 2 or 3 ares). This constitutes an obstacle with the mechanization and the increase in the outputs. This is why in 1958 the government inaugurates a policy of Remembrement aiming at creation, on the basis of friendly exchange between owners, of blocks of exploitation made up of vast more geometrical pieces. However, because of gravities of mentalities, in 1993,1/3 only of the grounds were re-allocated. Also the agricultural exodus, or the transfer to different but always rural employment, can only accelerate, while these departures support the regrouping of the grounds automatically. That more especially as the government helps the young people financially to remain on the grounds, and old men to be left. Today, the active population is lower than 9% and the agricultural production is lower than 3% of the GDP.

The modernization of transport and industrial development

A mountainous and dissymmetrical relief

Plains and hills with the periphery

The area of the plains extends to the west: basin of Taipei to Taichung a narrow plain (15 to 30 km length). De Taichung with Fangliao the widened plain and exceeds sometimes 50 km of width. Finally of Fangliao to the course Oluanpi the hills carry it. The plains become rare, narrow and parcelled out.

More in the east the hills of piémonts rise, from 700 to 500 m are often timbered and mark the limit between the populated surfaces and the little populated. On the other hand, the Eastern littoral offers only small plains, the principal one being that of Ilan in north. On the other hand, the mountain is omnipresent, partly the chain Haian Shanmo which generally finishes out of cliffs (metamorphic rocks).

High assembly lines in the center

The Montagnes cover more than 60% of the country and 62 tops exceed 3000 Mr. the culminating point is Yushan (3997 m). This altitude but also the freshness of the relief (strong slopes, deep throats) are explained by the youth of the mountain. It indeed had its first orogenesis at the end of the secondary era, then the many rejeux one (uplifts) with the tertiary and the Quaternaire. Today still the Eastern chain is raised because of plate of Philippines which enters in subduction under the Eurasian plate. That explains also the numbers of Séismes. Like the island, the chains are directed northern/north-eastern and southern/south-western.

The central chain is highest: Chungyang, flanked in the west of a whole of parallel chains: Yushan and Alishan in the south, and north by a third, Hsueshan.

In the east of the principal chain a long longitudinal depression is stretched. Finally between this depression and the Pacific Haian is a long chain which rises with more than 1500 Mr. Enfin, at the septentrional end of the island, the small solid mass of Yangming is formed old craters with the fumeroles (fume) sulfurous, and strewn with sources of warm water.

These various mountainous chains are covered with a splendid pruned forest:

on the lower floor: tropical forests wet, sempervirentes and dense, made up exclusively of leafy and tree ferns (which resemble trees). The trees are surrounded by lianas and épiphytes.
On the median floor: mixed forests (coniferous and leafy), where the oaks, the maples and the elms mix with the yellow and red Cyprès. The mixed forest disappears with the profit from the forest from conifers (pines and fir trees);
beyond 3500-3600 m, left steppe called the “alpine lawn” (small grass, bushes, foams).

Transport in the process of modernization

The obstacle of the relief and terrestrial circulation

; In the west The Highway Sun Yatsen, of Keelung to Kaohsiung, was open in 1978; one 2nd, the more interior, were completed in 2001 and count 2 times 6 ways, even sometimes 2 times 8 ways. Another was inaugurated in 2003, connecting Taipei and Yilan. The railway is used little (less than 15% of goods transport). On the other hand, the construction of a TGV between Taipei and Kaohsiung opened in 2005. The highway network is of very good quality and very complete.

; In the east The construction of the ways, road like railway, required the multiplication of works of art (large bridges, large tunnels…). Thus, the last section of the railway which surrounds the island between Taitung and Kaohsiung required the boring of 34 tunnels and the construction of 49 large bridges. The principal lanes borrow the longitudinal depression.

; Western connections/east The road of Taichung with Yilan follows the valleys which separate Hsueshan and Chungyang. Three roads only right through cross the mountainous chains and they borrow all of the collars of 2000 m even of 3000 Mr. an expressway between Taichung and Hualien is projected.

A maritime power

After Singapore, Hongkong and Shanghai, Taiwan places itself at the 4th world rank for the handling of the containers. The progression of the goods traffic is spectacular: in 1960, more than 4500 million tons, against more than 135000 million tons in 1998. In the same way it profits powerful ship-owners. Evergreen is one are first companies of container ships in the world with Gonavirs. However the natural conditions are unfavourable. The peaceful coast is bathed deep water, but the back-country is empty and transport is difficult. On the other hand, the coast of the strait is populated, and especially the back-country is very favorable to the human activities. However, the large handicap for the construction of ports, it is the uninterrupted continuation of high funds along this plain of accumulation. The maritime power of Taiwan thus results from a political volunteer of fitting-out carried out by the government: it modernized and increases old ports and it created the new ones.

; The 1st port, Kaohsiung 高雄 It is also oldest (15th century), but the current site, created in 1961, is completely artificial. A 10 km long basin was dredged in a lagoon and two channels were open through the dune cord. Thus the port lays out of 20 km quays, all specialized, with more and more of container ships. In addition, the fishing port is always active. It imports gross products and exports end products, primarily food and of high technology. It is the 3rd port with containers in the world.

; The 2nd port, Keelung The Japanese had developed as of the 19th century. Its extension is made difficult by the heights which surround it. The authorities thus decided to build a new port with about fifteen kilometers in the east. Meanwhile, they built the port of Suao (entered in service in 1978).

; 3rd, Taichung 台中, 1976 Although very recent (open in 1976), completely artificial, he knows a remarkable progression and dispatches varied products.

; The 4th port, Hualien 花莲 It is 4th of line and its speciality is the export of marble (careers in the back-country) and of cement.

Progress of aviation

The interior flights, in spite of the relative surface of the island, progress, just like the international flights. The latter especially developed as from the years 1970 with the multiplication of the business trips and the liberalization of the exits of the territory including worms the RPC progressively of the democratization of the mode. The principal connections are on line of Japan, Hong-Kong and Singapore. These two last being especially platforms (or turntables) airport. To guarantee the progression of the traffic, one 3rd international airport must open in 2007 in Taiwan.

An industrial and financial power

Three industrial generations

From 1950 at the years 1960

The first generation corresponds to industries of labor: it is a question all at the same time of satisfying the inner demand, but also of draining currencies thanks to exports. Industries are founded on abundance (mass productions), know-how, the docility and the weakness of the wages of the labor. By là-même the firms are competing on the industrial market.

The two principal branches are:

the textile and clothing (cotton fabric, and later also of the synthetic fibers he is the first world producer today)
the agro-alimentary one (mushrooms, truck farming and canning facility, tropical fruits and canning facility, products of the sea and canning facility).

Years 1960 at the decade 1980

If industries of labor are always active, they from now on are supplemented by industries of capital and industries with large investments, mainly basic industries and of transformation with already elaborate technology. The capital is various sources: main road (private or of State) and international.

The four principal branches are:

energy production: the State set up hydro-electric stoppings, built thermo plants is traditional (with coal and the fuel) or nuclear (three are in operation and one in project). These investments are all the more necessary as the energy consumption of the country was multiplied by 20 between 1954 and 1990. In addition Taiwan suffers from a great dependence: its energy resources (running water, little coal, little oil, finally the more important geothermic resources but however rather weak) cover less than 8% of its needs;
the iron and steel industry, which proposes a complete range of products (tubes, pipes, sheet, bars, etc);
mechanics and initially naval construction, the car with the production under license;
machine tools, partly for the agro-alimentary one (embouteilleuses, sertisseuse, etc) and for the textiles (weaving looms).

Years 1980 at our days

For 20 years, Taiwan has bet on industries of high technology. Already in the years 1960, this country had engaged in electric industries (cables, transformers, etc), the electric household appliances and robotics, and a little later in electronics (television sets, walkmans, scanners, etc). Today, it is of full foot in the 21e century and the State always plays a determining role for the development of research, but also of the production.

In 1979, it creates a technopolis with Hsinchu. Its responsibilities are:

owner of the grounds, it at low prices rents them with the contractors,
it authorizes or not the establishments of research and of industry,
it builds the infrastructures and sets up services, including two scientific universities,
it lends capital and can even sometimes have a financial participation in the research programs within private companies.

Today, more than 100 companies are established there and 70% of the capital are Taiwanese. The majority are specialized in electronics. Its 2nd technopolis is Hsinsih: 600 ha reserved for electronics, but also for biotechnologies and new materials. Taiwan is from now on one of large electronics world. He is the 1st producer of scanners, mouse, keyboards, etc He is also the 3rd producer of microcomputers and 5th for its components. Moreover, it produces quartz watches, telecopiers, computers, cellphones, etc In addition to electronics, it there with automation, technologies with the laser, and biotechnologies in particular.

Three industrial poles

1st corresponds to Taipei and its satellites. The capital is specialized in the processing industries (agroalimentary, textile and clothes industry, electrical material and electronics, mechanics, etc). On the other hand, the production of Keelung is of course above all founded on its maritime activities (shipyards, canning facilities of fish, recently of more sophisticated industries multiplied). In south-west, Taoyuan is a great petrochemical center. Lastly, more to the South still, Hsinchu is limited to industries of high technology. The choice by the State of this small town to create a technopolis is explained by:

its situation on both sides of the highway and with 45 km of the international airport of Taoyuan, finally halfway between the large ports of Keelung and Taichung.
Its site, the rural semi framework enters the sea and wooded Piedmont and an environment snuffed for the executives and the researchers.

The second pole is Kaohsiung, the 1st port of the country. The greatest part of the imports, consisted of raw materials (coal, oil, iron), is unloaded there. Also this city develops the iron and steel industry and petrochemistry. In addition, it is a center for naval construction, but also for the dismantling of the ships. Finally a very open range of processing industries, the industrialo-harbor complex generates 200.000 employment. As for the 15 industrial parks, they are distributed in a radius of 45 km around the city.

The 3rd pole is Taichung. But it is much less dynamic and its iron and steel industry is in crisis. Today, it was reconcentré on the processing industries (objects out of plastic, clothes industries, but especially electronic and articles of sport);

Foreign trade, engine of the growth

The rise of exports is required by the strong dependence of the country of outside. It should import food products, energy sources and matters 1st industrial. Its foreign trade is thus a real success: in 1981, Taiwan was the 20th world exporter and in 1990, 12th. Its trade balance was always positive since 1970, with a margin of two years. In value, exports to HAVE and Japan correspond to more than 80% of the total. Then Europe, the Southeast Asia and the RPC via Hongkong come.

In 1952, more than 90% of the incomes of export came from agricultural productions (or transformed gross). In 1995, more than 95% come from industries, not included/understood those of the agro-alimentary one. Taiwan is thus incontestably a new industrialized country and which knew played with wonder of universalization. The three bases of this exceptional success are:

capacity to sell products increasingly more elaborate and thus with added-value increasingly higher. That goes from pair with the excellence of the educational system. The rate of elimination of illiteracy is of more than 95% and the rate of schooling up to 17 years is of more than 85%.
the remarkable adaptability with the world demand. Indeed its close relationships with the world diaspora enable him to know about novel modes and new technologies. It is true also that a few years ago still they had largely misused the counterfeits, whereas they now have an absolute respect of the signed contracts from the point of view of the quality of the product like that of the delivery periods.

Principal exports relate to especially two branches:

electric and electronic machines and component is majority. The remainder is very varied: machine tools, cycles, electric household appliances, ships.
textile products and clothes industry.

The 2nd investor of Asia

That is possible thanks to the importance of its currencies, with more than 80 billion dollars EUA and out of gold. It places it in direct competition with Japan. This situation has two causes:

the surplus of its trade balance,
the arrival of capital, of which some only speculative, attracted by the good behavior of the Taiwanese dollars. Their source: HAVE, the Diaspora Japan, and Chinese.
In addition, since end of the year 80, Taiwan invests massively abroad and today it exports more capital than it imports some. The principal recipients of these investments are: the Southeast Asia (Malaysia, then Thailand partly), HAVE, Europe, the RPC.

Today, more than 25000 companies with Taiwanese capital are installed there, partly in Fujian (because of kept family ties), Guangdong, Hainan and Shanghai. These relocalizations relate to industries of labor and bottom-of-the-range. Reasons:

the price of land dissuades the investors,
the power of the ecologists lobbies which are opposed with effectiveness to the creation or the extension of polluting industries,
By a labor become increasingly expensive.

Random links: