1922 – 2025
Chinese-American theoretical physicist who won the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering parity violation in weak nuclear interactions. His groundbreaking work with Tsung-Dao Lee fundamentally changed understanding of particle physics and symmetry laws.
1912 – 1997
Chinese-American nuclear physicist who conducted the Wu experiment in 1956, which proved that parity is not conserved in weak nuclear interactions. Despite her crucial experimental work confirming the theory, she was excluded from the 1957 Nobel Prize awarded to her male colleagues.
1917 – 2019
Chinese-American architect who designed the Louvre Pyramid in Paris and the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. He won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1983 for his modernist designs that blend geometric forms with cultural sensitivity.
1887 – 1975
Chinese military leader who led the Republic of China government and Kuomintang party, ruling mainland China from 1928 until retreating to Taiwan in 1949. He established authoritarian rule in Taiwan and maintained the claim to be China's legitimate government until his death.
1895 – 1976
Chinese writer and philosopher best known for "My Country and My People" (1935) and "The Importance of Living" (1937), which introduced Western readers to Chinese culture and philosophy. He also invented an improved Chinese typewriter and compiled Chinese-English dictionaries.
1926 – 2024
Chinese-American theoretical physicist who shared the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics with Chen-Ning Yang for discovering that parity is not conserved in weak nuclear interactions. This groundbreaking work overturned a fundamental assumption in physics that had been accepted for decades.
1957 – Present
Malaysian-born Taiwanese filmmaker known for his slow cinema style and acclaimed works including "Rebels of the Neon God" and "What Time Is It There?". He won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for "Stray Dogs" in 2013.
1847 – 1917
Actor (1847–1917)
1910 – 2001
Taiwanese politician (1910-2001)
1953 – 1995
Teresa Teng was one of the most influential Chinese pop singers of all time, whose romantic ballads dominated Asian markets from the 1970s to 1990s. Her songs became cultural phenomena across Greater China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, earning her the title "Asia's eternal queen of pop."
1936 – Present
Yuan T. Lee won the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work in chemical reaction dynamics using crossed molecular beams. He later served as president of Academia Sinica, Taiwan's premier research institution.
1950 – Present
Chen Shui-bian was Taiwan's first president from the Democratic Progressive Party (2000-2008), ending over 50 years of Kuomintang rule. His presidency was marked by efforts to assert Taiwan's identity, though he was later convicted on corruption charges.
1979 – Present
Jay Chou revolutionized Mandopop by blending traditional Chinese instruments with Western pop, R&B, and hip-hop elements in the early 2000s. He has sold over 30 million albums and is also a successful film director and actor.
1980 – Present
Known as the "Queen of C-Pop," Jolin Tsai is one of Asia's best-selling artists with over 25 million records sold worldwide. She has won numerous Golden Melody Awards and is recognized for her elaborate music videos and live performances.
1954 – Present
Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee became the first person to win the Best Director Oscar twice for foreign language films, winning for "Life of Pi" (2012) and "Brokeback Mountain" (2005). His films span multiple genres and cultures, including "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Sense and Sensibility."
1923 – 2020
Lee Teng-hui was Taiwan's first democratically elected president and is known as "Mr. Democracy" for leading Taiwan's transition from military rule to democracy in the 1990s. His presidency (1988-2000) established Taiwan as a multi-party democratic state.
1910 – 1988
6th and 7th President of Republic of China
1999 – Present
Chou Tzuyu is a member of the hugely successful K-pop group Twice, one of the best-selling girl groups worldwide. She gained international attention in 2016 for a political controversy involving Taiwan's flag, highlighting cross-strait tensions.
1976 – Present
Shu Qi is an internationally acclaimed actress who has starred in films by Wong Kar-wai, Hou Hsiao-hsien, and other renowned directors. She won the Golden Horse Award for Best Actress and has been featured in Hollywood productions including "The Transporter."
1959 – Present
Lai Ching-te became Taiwan's President in May 2024 after serving as Vice President under Tsai Ing-wen. A trained physician and former mayor of Tainan, he represents the Democratic Progressive Party's continued leadership in Taiwan.
1950 – Present
Ma Ying-jeou served as Taiwan's President from 2008-2016, notable for improving cross-strait relations with mainland China through increased trade and direct flights. He was previously mayor of Taipei and is known for his efforts to reduce tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
1956 – Present
The first female President of Taiwan (2016-2024), Tsai Ing-wen led Taiwan through a period of increased tensions with China and strengthened ties with democratic allies. She previously served as chair of the Democratic Progressive Party and held various government positions before her presidency.
1988 – Present
Jeremy Lin became the first Taiwanese-American to play in the NBA and sparked the global phenomenon "Linsanity" during his breakout 2012 season with the New York Knicks. He was also the first American of Taiwanese descent to win an NBA championship, with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
