Taiwan

1895 China cedes Taiwan to Japan



1912 Establishment of Republic of China, headed by Sun Yat-sen of the Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang



1925 Chiang Kai-shek succeeds Sun as head of Nationalists



1945 Civil war between Nationalists and Communist Party



1947 Rebellion on Taiwan against Nationalists. Brutal suppression with thousands dead



1949 Chiang's Nationalists lose civil war; 2 million Nationalist soldiers and civil servants flee to Taiwan. Although the Nationalist government claims to be the sole representative for all of China, it only controls Taiwan and a few outlying islands



Mao Zedong announces founding of the People's Republic of China, with capital Beijing



1950s Taiwan develops export-oriented industries; beginning of Taiwan economic take-off



1971 People's Republic of China (Beijing) takes over China's seat in the United Nations. Taiwan, or Republic of China, leaves U.N.



1987 Martial law lifted on Taiwan, slow democratization under way



1992 Talks between Taiwan and China over how to define Taiwan's status end in stalemate. Other meetings in 1993 and 1998 yield no result



First democratic election of the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament



1996 First democratic election for president. Lee Teng-hui elected



China fires missiles toward Taiwan to warn Taiwan against seeking independence



U.S. deploys carrier Nimitz to emphasize its commitment to defend Taiwan



2000 Lee retires. New election won by Chen Shui-bian



2004 Chen wins presidency again. Term limit means his term expires in 2008

2008 Ma Ying-jeou elected president