Taiwan 2000 to Date - Did You Know

1. **Did you know?** In **2000**, Taiwan elected **Chen Shui-bian** as president, marking the first time a non-Kuomintang (KMT) candidate won the presidency.
2. **Did you know?** Taiwan became the **first Asian country** to legalize **same-sex marriage** in **2019**, setting a historic precedent in the region.
3. **Did you know?** **Taiwan High-Speed Rail** (THSR) opened in **2007**, connecting Taipei to Kaohsiung in under two hours, revolutionizing domestic travel.
4. **Did you know?** In **2020**, **President Tsai Ing-wen** was re-elected in a landslide, becoming Taiwan’s first female president to win two terms.
5. **Did you know?** Taiwan is one of the world’s top producers of **semiconductors**, with **Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)** dominating global chip production.
6. **Did you know?** In **2002**, Taiwan joined the **World Trade Organization (WTO)** under the name “Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu.”
7. **Did you know?** **Taipei 101**, completed in **2004**, was the world’s tallest building at the time, standing at **1,667 feet** until it was surpassed in 2010.
8. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **National Health Insurance system**, revamped in the 2000s, is considered one of the most efficient and affordable healthcare systems globally.
9. **Did you know?** In **2016**, **President Tsai Ing-wen** became the first woman to be elected as the president of Taiwan.
10. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **Sunflower Student Movement** in **2014** protested against a trade agreement with China, raising concerns over Taiwan’s sovereignty and economic independence.
11. **Did you know?** In **2021**, Taiwan achieved a record **GDP growth of 6.57%**, driven largely by strong exports of technology products, especially semiconductors.
12. **Did you know?** Taiwan responded to the **COVID-19 pandemic** with swift measures, becoming one of the few places in the world to effectively contain the virus in **2020**.
13. **Did you know?** In **2009**, **Typhoon Morakot** devastated southern Taiwan, causing over **600 deaths** and extensive damage to infrastructure.
14. **Did you know?** **Terry Gou**, the founder of **Foxconn**, became one of Taiwan’s wealthiest individuals by producing electronics for global companies like Apple.
15. **Did you know?** Taiwan hosts one of the largest **Pride parades** in Asia, attracting tens of thousands of participants annually.
16. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **Night Markets**, such as **Shilin** and **Raohe**, continue to attract international tourists, renowned for their unique street food and vibrant culture.
17. **Did you know?** **Tsai Ing-wen** is Taiwan’s first president of **Hakka** and **indigenous descent**, promoting greater recognition for Taiwan’s ethnic diversity.
18. **Did you know?** Taiwan leads the world in the production of **advanced microchips**, producing **92%** of the most advanced semiconductors used globally.
19. **Did you know?** In **2011**, Taiwan’s **Hsinchu Science Park** was instrumental in making Taiwan a leader in the **tech industry**, focusing on semiconductors, biotechnology, and information technology.
20. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **Golden Horse Film Festival**, sometimes called the **“Chinese Oscars,”** has become one of the most prestigious film awards in Asia.
21. **Did you know?** In **2008**, the **Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA)** was signed between Taiwan and China, boosting cross-strait trade despite political tensions.
22. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **beef noodle soup** is considered a national dish, with an annual **Beef Noodle Soup Festival** held to celebrate variations of the iconic dish.
23. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **baseball teams** continue to dominate regional leagues, with baseball being one of the most popular sports on the island.
24. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **Yushan (Jade Mountain)** is the highest peak in East Asia, standing at **3,952 meters** (12,966 feet), and is a popular hiking destination.
25. **Did you know?** Taiwan ranked **11th** in the **2022 Global Competitiveness Index**, recognized for its innovation and high-tech industries.
26. **Did you know?** **Bubble tea (boba)**, which originated in Taiwan in the 1980s, became a global phenomenon in the 2000s, with shops popping up worldwide.
27. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **renewable energy sector** is rapidly growing, with the government committing to having **20% of its energy** come from renewables by **2025**.
28. **Did you know?** **Alishan** remains one of Taiwan’s top tourist destinations, famous for its **tea plantations** and spectacular sunrise views.
29. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **YouBike** public bicycle-sharing system, launched in **2009**, became a model for urban mobility and is widely used by both locals and tourists.
30. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **New Taipei City** became the most populous city on the island, with over **4 million residents** as of 2022.
31. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **Indigenous Peoples Basic Law**, passed in **2005**, protects the rights of the island’s indigenous communities and promotes cultural preservation.
32. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **LGBTQ+ community** celebrated the passing of **same-sex marriage** in **2019**, making it the first in Asia to achieve this historic milestone.
33. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **National Palace Museum** houses over **700,000 artifacts**, many of which were brought over from mainland China during the Chinese Civil War.
34. **Did you know?** In **2022**, Taiwan’s **fertility rate** dropped to one of the lowest in the world, with **0.89 children per woman**, prompting government efforts to boost birth rates.
35. **Did you know?** **Oolong tea** from Taiwan is considered some of the finest in the world, and Taiwan hosts **tea competitions** that draw international attention.
36. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **Taichung World Flora Exposition** in **2018** attracted millions of visitors, showcasing Taiwan’s commitment to biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.
37. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **night market culture** remains one of its top tourist attractions, with over **300 night markets** operating across the island.
38. **Did you know?** Taiwan is consistently ranked among the **top 10 safest countries** in the world, with low crime rates and high levels of public safety.
39. **Did you know?** In **2018**, Taiwan passed the **Referendum Act**, allowing the public to vote on significant political and social issues, leading to multiple national referendums.
40. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **F-16 fighter jets** were upgraded in **2019**, ensuring that its air force remains one of the most advanced in the Asia-Pacific region.
41. **Did you know?** **Hualien** and **Taitung** counties on Taiwan’s east coast are known for their stunning **coastal scenery** and are home to a growing number of eco-tourism resorts.
42. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **Betel Nut culture**, once a booming industry, has seen significant declines in recent years due to health campaigns against its use.
43. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **tourism industry** has grown exponentially since 2000, with visitors coming to experience its natural beauty, including **Taroko Gorge** and **Kenting National Park**.
44. **Did you know?** In **2017**, Taiwan introduced **regulations** to phase out **single-use plastics** by **2030**, making it one of the first Asian countries to do so.
45. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **panda diplomacy** reached new heights when China gifted Taiwan two pandas, **Tuan Tuan** and **Yuan Yuan**, in **2008** as a symbol of goodwill.
46. **Did you know?** In **2020**, Taiwan’s **baseball season** was one of the first sports leagues globally to resume amid the COVID-19 pandemic, gaining international attention.
47. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **southern city of Tainan** is known for its **traditional temples** and was named as one of Asia’s top cultural heritage cities.
48. **Did you know?** **Yushan National Park** is Taiwan’s largest national park and is home to diverse wildlife, including the endangered **Formosan black bear**.
49. **Did you know?** Taiwan has one of the **highest recycling rates** in the world, with over **55%** of its waste being recycled as of **2022**.
50. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **bamboo shoots** are a culinary delicacy, often harvested in the spring, and are featured prominently in traditional Taiwanese cuisine.