LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Taiwan
built 655 days ago
Taiwan was inhabited by aborigines of Malayan descent when Chinese from the areas now designated as Fukien and Kwangtung began settling it in the 7th century, becoming the majority. The Portuguese explored the area in 1590, naming it “the Beautiful” (Formosa). In 1624 the Dutch set up forts in the south, the Spanish in the north. The Dutch forced out the Spanish in 1641 and controlled the island until 1661, when Chinese general Koxinga took it over and established an independent kingdom. The Manchus seized the island in 1683 and held it until 1895, when it passed to Japan after the first Sino-Japanese War. Japan developed and exploited Formosa.
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The Mandarin in Taiwan is a bit different from the official Beijing Dialect; most notably, Taiwan continues to use traditional Chinese characters, not the simplified versions used on the mainland. Taiwanese Mandarin ... tends to not differentiate between the "S" and "Sh" sounds in Mandarin. All people schooled after 1945 are generally fluent in Mandarin, although it is sometimes not the first language of choice. Mandarin is fairly popular with young people. Some in the older generation are not fluent in Mandarin as they were schooled in Japanese or not at all. Universally the Taiwanese are very accepting of foreigners and react with curiosity and admiration for trying the local tongue.
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After peaking in the second quarter of 2004, Taiwan's economy has been growing at a slower rate recently. Real GDP growth is expected to be 3.8 percent in 2005, down from 5.7 percent in 2004. Dampening factors include a slowdown in the export sector, high global oil prices, weakening external demand and uncertainty in the high-tech sector. Taiwan's economy is heavily oriented toward the manufacturing of consumer electronics products.
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Taiwan has a marine tropical climate, meaning cool winters (15°C) and sweltering, humid summers (above 30°C) from June to September. The best time of year to visit is ... from October to December, although occasional typhoons can spoil the fun. Spring is also nice, although it rains more than during autumn.
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Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) and Chunghwa Telecom (CHT), Taiwan's largest telecom operator, have signed an agreement for the supply of reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs). This is the first contract awarded by CHT for its five-year ROADM plan. Highly efficient and cost-effective optical solutions will be implemented to help achieve CHT's Optical Era Project objectives.
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Motherboards are a way of life for the growing crowds at the Taiwan trade show. Plus: a new take on the megahertz wars. Tags: Computex, Taiwan, trade show, motherboard, photograph Image galleries 2007-06-07
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