|
While Taiwan may be described as a predominantly Chinese or Han society, its heritage is much more complex than such a generalization implies. The succeeding waves of Han immigrants belonged to a variety of subgroups with mutually unintelligible languages and different customs. In today’s Taiwan, however, distinctions between them have become blurred as a result of extensive intermarriage and universal use of the Mandarin Chinese language. Further, Taiwan proper has been a melting pot not only of diverse Han subgroups but also of its indigenous Austronesian peoples and people from all over the world. Recent years, for example, have seen a large influx of immigrants from Southeast Asia.There is a growing appreciation in Taiwan of the cultural legacies of the 14 distinguishable Austronesian subgroups, which constitute approximately 2 percent of the population. Both public and private organizations are making efforts to vitalize their languages and cultures, as illustrated by the launching of an indigenous television station, TITV, and the passage of the Indigenous Peoples Basic Act in 2005.
This convergence and interplay of currents of humanity in Taiwan have helped transform it into an open-hearted, forward-looking society that has incorporated diverse elements of civilization from around the world in a distinctive and harmonious manner. The Taiwanese people cherish human rights, which comprise an integral part of everyday life from gender empowerment to equal access to comprehensive national health insurance. Legislation to enhance the people’s welfare, promote social equality and safeguard labor rights is a manifestation of the government’s staunch commitment to protect the rights and interests of the people. 
Young dancers make energetic use of space reserved by the Taipei City government for outdoor recreation. (Courtesy of Taipei City’s Department of Information and Tourism)
Population Profile (2008)
Population: 23,069,345 (June 2009)
Crude birth rate: 0.864 percent
Crude death rate: 0.625 percent
Life expectancy: 78.54 years (preliminary)
Population structure (by age):
0-14 years: 16.95 percent
15-64 years: 72.62 percent
Above 65: 10.43 percent
|
