The chinese later called it taiwan (terraced bay). In 1517 a portuguese ship sailed through the taiwan strait, and the ship’s log recorded the words “ilha formosa,” meaning “beautiful island” in portuguese. The question of why the island often referred to as taiwan isn't consistently called republic of china in international discourse is a deeply complex and politically charged.
Today, only 12 countries (plus the vatican) officially recognise taiwan. The us decision to switch diplomatic recognition from taipei to beijing in 1979 was the turning point. Join us on this enlightening journey as we unravel the mysteries behind taiwan’s name.
During the japanese occupation between 1985 and. Discover the reasons why taiwan is called taiwan and gain a deeper understanding of its heritage.