Taiwanese
Taiwanese Americans demonstrate in Los Angeles; courtesy the Formosa Foundation
The Cold War and the Journey to California
The Republic of China (ROC) was established in 1911. With the communist revolution in the 1940s, the leaders of the ROC moved their government from mainland China into exile on the island of Taiwan in 1949. Taiwan absorbed over a million immigrants from the mainland, many of whom were political refugees from the People's Republic of China.
After arriving in Taiwan, the immigrants encountered new difficulties. Not only was the economy under great pressure, but the Taiwanese government ruled by martial law until 1987. As a result, many left Taiwan for the politically friendly United States, especially after immigration laws were liberalized in 1965.
A Different Experience from Earlier Chinese Immigrants
The Taiwanese experience in California was very different from that of Chinese laborers who came in the 19th century. Many of those who arrived in the 1960s were well educated and from prosperous backgrounds. They came to attend college, build professional careers, and become permanent residents. More than half of those who immigrated between 1966 and 1975 were women.