Taiwan Province

Taiwan Province is a de jure administrative division of the Republic of China (ROC) retained in the constitutional framework but no longer functioning as a substantive tier of government. Although historically the province encompassed the entire island of Taiwan and its surrounding archipelagos, administrative reforms since the late twentieth century have gradually removed its governing powers, leaving it today as a nominal or titular entity. Despite this, the concept of the province remains constitutionally preserved and continues to hold symbolic and historical significance.

Historical Development under the Qing Dynasty

The origins of Taiwan Province can be traced to the Qing dynasty’s consolidation of authority over the island in the late seventeenth century. Following the 1683 defeat of the Kingdom of Tungning under Zheng Keshuang by Qing naval commander Shi Lang, Taiwan and Penghu were incorporated as Taiwan Prefecture under Fujian Province. This arrangement persisted for nearly two centuries as the Qing central government maintained only limited administrative presence in the region.
During the nineteenth century Taiwan’s geopolitical and economic value grew considerably. The Sino-French War (1884–1885), particularly the Keelung campaign, underscored the island’s strategic position in maritime defence. Under Imperial Commissioner Liu Mingchuan, an ambitious modernisation effort began, reforming infrastructure, communication networks, and military defences. Recognising the growing administrative demands and the island’s increasing strategic importance, the Qing court formally elevated Taiwan to provincial status in 1887 as Fujian–Taiwan Province. Liu Mingchuan was appointed the first governor, and the island was reorganised into a new administrative structure composed of prefectures, districts, and subprefectures.
Plans were made to relocate the provincial capital from Tainan to a more central site at Toatun (present-day Taichung), although the temporary capital was moved to Taipei during construction. Taipei ultimately became the designated provincial capital. This reorganisation marked the first time that Taiwan functioned as a distinct province within the Chinese imperial system.

Japanese Rule and Administrative Reorganisation

The provincial structure was short-lived. After the Qing defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, the Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895) ceded Taiwan and Penghu to Japan. Under Japanese administration, the province was abolished and replaced with a centralised colonial government. Over the following fifty years, the Japanese authorities implemented major infrastructural developments, altered administrative boundaries, and introduced modern public health, education, and industrial systems.
During this period Taiwan’s governance operated independently from China, and its administrative divisions reflected Japanese colonial needs rather than earlier Qing frameworks. By the end of the Second World War, the island had undergone substantial changes in population distribution, economic structure, and bureaucratic organisation.

Re-establishment under the Republic of China

Following Japan’s surrender in 1945, Taiwan was placed under the administration of the Republic of China as a province. The Taiwan Provincial Government, established under Chief Executive Chen Yi, assumed authority over the island. Early ROC governance was marked by significant tension, culminating in the February 28 Incident of 1947, which led to Chen Yi’s recall and the abolition of the executive-general system.
With the Kuomintang’s (KMT) defeat in the Chinese Civil War and the relocation of the ROC government to Taipei in 1949, Taiwan Province became the primary territorial centre of the ROC. Although Taipei served simultaneously as the national capital and provincial seat, the provincial government retained considerable administrative responsibility. A dedicated provincial capital, Zhongxing New Village in Nantou County, was established in 1956 to house provincial institutions.
Throughout the post-war era, Taiwan Province encompassed almost the entire island, aside from major cities that were later separated as special municipalities. Taipei became a special municipality in 1967, followed by Kaohsiung in 1979, reducing the territory directly overseen by the provincial administration.

Constitutional Reforms and Administrative Downsizing

By the 1990s, Taiwan’s rapid urbanisation, growing national government authority, and increasing demand for democratic reform led to a reassessment of the province’s role. Critics argued that the provincial government duplicated the functions of the national and local administrations, resulting in unnecessary expenditure and bureaucratic inefficiency.
In 1992 the position of provincial governor, previously appointed by the central government, became an elected office. However, only one election was held: in 1994 James Soong became the first and only elected governor. Political concerns surrounding the consolidation of influence in provincial leadership contributed to renewed calls for reform.
Constitutional amendments in 1997 significantly curtailed the powers of the Taiwan Provincial Government. The governor’s office and provincial council were abolished, replaced by the Taiwan Provincial Consultative Council with limited advisory functions. Most provincial responsibilities were transferred to the central government or to counties and provincial cities. The process of downsizing continued in 1998, with further consolidation of financial and administrative resources.
In 2018, remaining provincial bodies were formally dissolved, and all residual functions were transferred to central ministries, particularly the National Development Council. The role of chairperson of the provincial government survives only as a nominal constitutional requirement.

Administrative Divisions and Territorial Changes

Historically, Taiwan Province oversaw all counties and provincial cities on the island, as well as the outlying islands of Penghu, Orchid Island, Green Island, and Xiaoliuqiu. Following administrative reforms and the elevation of major urban centres to special municipalities, the province’s territorial scope has been substantially reduced.
Originally, the ROC restructured former Japanese prefectures into eight counties and nine provincial cities. Over decades, several counties and cities were further subdivided or amalgamated, reflecting population growth and regional development. Ultimately, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan, New Taipei, Taipei, and Taoyuan were designated special municipalities between 1967 and 2014. These municipalities fall directly under the central government and are not considered part of any province.
Today, Taiwan Province remains a nominal division comprising eleven counties and three provincial cities. However, these local governments report directly to the Executive Yuan and operate independently of any provincial framework.

Governmental Structure in Practice

Although the constitutional provisions for Taiwan Province persist, its practical governmental functions have been absorbed by national ministries. Responsibilities previously managed by the province—including public works, highway administration, and financial institutions such as the Bank of Taiwan—were transferred to central authorities beginning in the late 1990s.
The Taiwan Provincial Government’s former administrative centre at Zhongxing New Village served as a symbolic seat of provincial authority until its dissolution. While provincial titles remain in official documentation for constitutional continuity, they no longer correspond to functioning administrative bodies.

International Relations and Provincial Partnerships

During the late twentieth century, Taiwan Province established sister-state relationships with numerous U.S. states. These partnerships were part of broader cultural and economic exchange initiatives conducted during a period in which the province maintained active administrative operations. Although the province no longer conducts independent diplomacy, the historical network of sister-state agreements reflects its former role within the ROC governmental system.