I think to understand how taiwan lives and is, you have to know a little bit of its geopolitic. 

First, to understand, let's talk about the history of Taiwan. The first people arrived from China in Taiwan, 6000 years ago. during the différents emperors war and politic evolution in China, Taiwan receive differents wawes of immigration from China. Taiwan was discovered by the portuguese in 1542 and named it Formose. The dutch and spanish colonize the island during the age of discovery in the 17h century but were expelled in 1662, the first Han chinese polity on the island were etablished. the China emperor take back the island, but Taiwan  was ceded to japan in 1895, because, the chinese loose the war against the japanese in the first sino-japanese war. 

Taiwan belong to the Japan during 50 years until the japanese defeat during the second world war and was get back by China. During those fifty years, Japanese try to "JAPANISE". Japanese Colonial Rule Was Instrumental In The Industrialization Of The Island, Extending The Railroads And Om, And Establishing A Formal Education System.Ther Transportation Networks, Building An Extensive Sanitation System. Those 50 years of japanese colonization had deeply change Taiwan and taiwanese. 

After the end of World War II, the chinese civil war resumed between the chinese nationalists (Kuomintang), led by Chiang Kai-Shek, and the chinese communist party, led by Mao Zedong. by 1949, a series of chinese communist offensives led to the defeat of the nationalist army, and the communists founded the people's Republic of China on 1 October.In December 1949, Chiang Evacuated His Government To Taiwan And Made Taipei The Temporary Capital Of The Roc (Also Called The "Wartime Capital" by Chiang Kai-Shek). Some 2 Million people, consisting mainly of soldiers, members of the ruling Kuomintang and intellectual and business elites, were evacuated from mainland China to Taiwan at that time, adding to the earlier population of approximately six million. In addition, the Roc government took to Taipei many national treasures and much Of China's gold reserves and foreign currency reserves. 

Chang Kai Chek take the control of the Republic of China until 1975, then his son, begin the democratization of the country. Thank's to his help for the Korean war, and his fight against the communism, Chang Kai Chek receive financial help from the United States. With his help, Taiwan live a true economic miracle and is now the 21st world most powerful economy, started by the agriculture and now world famous for those firms specialized in high technology. 

Chang Kai Chek Memorial Hall in Taipei

During this period, Chang Kai Chek, made a dictature, and plan to get back all the China. Taipei at this period, is just a temporary capital. Taiwan represent the China at the ONU. But in 1971, Chang Kai Check refuse a second official China. Taiwan lost his place at the ONU to the People's Republic of China. Taiwan do not become indépendant and is only recognized by 23 states of the ONU. At the ONU, Taiwan, is represented by the China, but China do not have any power on the island. So the status is very confusing, but still do not change because, it can break the stability of the area. Taiwan seems to be independant but still as the same as Hong Kong and Macao for the China. For example, there is no french ambassy in Taiwan, but just a desk, wich is totally the same, except that it is official.

People's Republic of China have fixed to get back Taiwan in his three biggest objectives for the 21st century, but at this moment, no plan is made and no solution exists to find a solution for the future of Taiwan. Indeed, the situation still like this and the two country continue to grow up, and for exemple 8 millions of Chinese work for Taiwanese firms. Since 2008, diplomatic relationships start between China and Taiwan for the business, transport and communication. 

Taiwan with his quality of life, powerful economy, great knowledge about the high technology, and his political stability, is a very important place in the globalization and for the others countries in the asian area. Thank's to this, the situation has no reason to change and personnaly, i hope that one day, Taiwan will begin a recognized and independant country, because, after visiting China and Taiwan, those two countries had became too different to be joined again.