2008 TAA-NNJ Scholarship Recipient -- Jonathan Chen

Parsippany High School, Grade 12

Taiwan is a country full of culture and tradition. It is a beautiful island about 245 miles long and 89 miles wide. Portuguese sailors passing Taiwan in 1544 first logged it in their ships log as “Ilha Formosa”, or beautiful island, and it is still called that by many people today.

Since then Taiwan’s government has changed hands many times, between the Dutch, Chinese, Japanese and back to the Chinese. It was not till about the 1980’s when the Taiwanese people started to receive respect and independence. Before that the KMT violently suppressed any signs of uprising from the locals. For example the 228 Incident, which got its name from the date it occurred on, February 28th. The 228 Incident was an uprising against the Chinese government. However the KMT cracked down and the death toll was estimated anywhere between one thousand to ten thousand people. After that the government kept a watchful eye over the Taiwanese people and announced martial law. Marking the era of White Terror, which lasted from May 19, 1949 to July 15, 1987. During the White Terror, around 140,000 Taiwanese, were imprisoned or executed for their real or perceived opposition to the KMT.

Around the 1980’s was when Taiwanese people, who had been in the lower class slowly began to become Taiwan's new middle class. Free enterprise had allowed native Taiwanese to gain a powerful bargaining chip in their demands for respect for their basic human rights. Events such as the Kaohsiung Incident helped turn the tides. The Kaohsiung Incident was started by a magazine by the name of the Taiwan Political Review. They announced that on that day native Taiwanese people should join in the commemorating of Human Rights Day, which is celebrated on December 10th all around the world. On the afternoon of December 10, 1979, the military, the army and the police had already surrounded the area the demonstration was to be held, four hours before the event. When the demonstration started the troops marched forward harassing the demonstrators then returning back to their positions. Political demonstrators clashed with troops sent by the KMT. This gave the KMT an excuse to arrest anyone they wanted to. However this brought the native people of Taiwan closer together.

From there they took the next step towards liberation..

Oh by the way. I Really like the shaved ice. Especially the milk ones, with mango. It tastes really really good. I also really enjoy the zen jew niiii tsaaa, its soo tasty, which makes my mouth water. When the little zoo’s come up from the straw and hit your mouth its soo fun and chewy. Taiwan has really good food. Such as neooowww loooo mein. So damn good. Oh and bah ones! They its like a delicious bread with a meaty surprise in the center. Like a twinky. The transportation in taiwan is unique as well. There is a train going just about anywhere. From the wan ka to the jew jew nai tsa place. The 101 building is really tall. Its kinda cool. And the boon dang’s on the trains are yummy too.