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In January and March 2008, Taiwan's citizens voted primarily for domestic political reasons to oust the Democratic Progressive Party administration and promulgate the second peaceful transfer of power in Taiwan's relatively young democracy. Surveys suggest that the new administration of President Ma Ying-jeou in its first few months in office has failed to meet voter expectations. Taiwan's new international relations with the United States, Japan and China have also raised concerns both within Taiwan and overseas. [image omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asia has two "third-wave" democracies, Taiwan and South Korea. Historically and in their democratizations both countries share several features. Both had a Japanese colonial experience. The economies of both grew rapidly under authoritarian governments and both democratized at similar times. Both democratic regimes have faced issues of legitimacy, media that derive from the old authoritarian regimes, and judicial authorities that have been slow to democratize. However, Taiwan and South Korea also differ in several important respects. For example, Taiwan has some continuity of political parties, while in South Korea parties have become the electoral machines of leading politicians. Taiwan and South Korea today both have divided polities, but democratization has achieved widespread acceptance in both countries and very few people wish to return to an authoritarian past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biography of Lee Teng-hui, president of Taiwan from 1988 to 2000, is presented. He was born on January 15, 1923 in Tamshui and studied at the Kyoto Imperial University. He was enlisted in the Japanese army in 1944, which strengthened further the influence of Japan on him. Teng-hui has significant contribution to the development of strong nationalism in China since he became president in 1988. His political importance is still highly regarded even after he has stepped down from office.

The article discusses Taiwan studies in Australia. It states that Taiwan studies in Australia have never been so strong because Australia's relationship with Taiwan was never that good. In the early years, Taiwan studies was very much a part of China studies, according to the article. Taiwan consciousness became important as the country began to democratize in the late 1980s and 1990s. The Taiwan studies in Australia is classified into categories namely early migrants, indigenization and globalization.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of studying and conducting research in Taiwan.