The world's first special exhibition on the history of Taiwan, the history of the WFTA.
---> Please note the opening times of the library
A short Story of founding Taiwanese Associations
The founding of Taiwanese Associations worldwide started in the 60‘s.
Through the establishment of Taiwanese associations, overseas Taiwanese aimed not only to provide assistance to each other but also to stay informed about the situation in their homeland and contribute to Taiwan's democratization.
On 7th September 1974, the World Federation of Taiwanese Associations (WFTA) was finally founded after many attempts and countless efforts by all sides. The first assembly of WFTA was held in Austria, in a school of Dominican Sisters located in a Roman Catholic monastery in the west of Vienna. The initial members of WFTA included: the USA, Canada, Europe, Japan and Brazil.
Over the past 50 years, Taiwanese Associations have witnessed and participated in the development of Taiwanese history: the Coming Home Movement of overseas Taiwanese, the lifting of party bans and media bans, the end of martial law, the introduction of general parliamentary elections and direct presidential elections, as well as the advancement of transitional justice and the raising of awareness of resistance against China’s aggression. Taiwanese Associations have played an active and supporting role in these stages. One can say that the history of the Taiwanese Associations has been closely linked to the democratisation of Taiwan. And it still is and will be.
