The new National Archives offers access to documents that chart Taiwan’s democratic evolution.
The varied collections of the National Archives in New Taipei City’s Linkou District make up a civic institution that captures the complex evolution of Taiwan’s democracy. At the opening ceremony in November 2025, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) underscored the dual role of the archives as a nation’s collective memory and a vital pillar of democracy. “I believe that through open archives, people will understand and appreciate the value of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as well as the resolve necessary for their pursuit, and further unite to safeguard Taiwan’s freedom,” he said, noting that public records allow a society to confront its past with clarity and move forward with purpose.
Run by the National Archives Administration with a mandate to gather and preserve key records from all levels of government, as well as significant materials from civil society and overseas collections, the Linkou repository operates on the principle of maximum openness with minimal restriction. Its mission reflects Taiwan’s commitment to transparency and transitional justice and positions the institution as a forum in which state actions can be scrutinized and contextualized. This ethos spurs collaborations with schools, civic groups and local cultural institutions to cultivate evidence-based reasoning among younger generations.
“Archives. Islands: Our Stories,” a permanent on-site exhibit, tracks the country’s complex history from the profound dislocations after 1945 to Cold War realignments, rapid industrialization and the rise of a robust civil society. Documents on display illuminate the forces that shaped modern Taiwan: major infrastructure projects, shifting diplomatic landscapes, environmental debates and breakthroughs in industry, science and public health. The temporary exhibition “Return To 1987” examines the lifting of martial law, one of Taiwan’s most consequential democratic milestones. It traces the tightening and eventual loosening of restrictions on the populace, the surge of social movements and the legal dismantling of an authoritarian regime.
Taken together, these exhibitions position the National Archives as a dynamic civic space that preserves historic testament and affirms the values underpinning Taiwan’s democratic success. The institution offers visitors both a record of the past and a compelling reminder that the safeguarding of freedom, human dignity and the rule of law requires constant vigilance.
—by Liu Kun-hao
Inspired by Linkou’s seasonal fog, the interweaving stainless steel of Hsu Tsung-chieh’s architectural art shrouds the archives and surroundings as if with a passing veil of mist.
An indoor installation by Hsu made of 1,700 mirrored plates represents archival data and reminds visitors of the importance of public memory.
“Return to 1987” is a temporary exhibition that reconstructs everyday settings from the martial law era to offer visitors a window into life before Taiwan’s democratic transition.
A recreated 1980s classroom scene depicts a student being shamed under martial law era policies to enforce the use of Mandarin.
Banned books and censored materials illustrate the breadth of political control that dictated what citizens could read and learn under martial law.
Campaign posters, election materials and civic artifacts from the exhibit’s post-1990 reform section chart Taiwan’s democratic evolution.
Reports of Henry Liu’s 1984 assassination in the U.S. underscore how authoritarian control once reached beyond Taiwan’s borders to silence dissent.
President Lai Ching-te’s Nov 2025 visit in advance of the official opening highlighted the administration’s pledge to uphold transparency and transitional justice as pillars of democratic governance. (Courtesy of Presidential Office)
The permanent exhibition “Archives. Islands: Our Story” displays documents and artifacts that trace social change in postwar Taiwan.
Curators of the exhibit use a recreation of the box of confiscated tobacco that triggered social unrest leading to the February 28 Incident.
Taiwan’s industrialization and construction booms in the 1960s and 1970s ultimately reshape work in virtually every field.
Rice, flour and other food aid from the U.S. prove pivotal to rebuilding daily life in the 1950s.
President Lai Ching-te, front, second left, attends the opening ceremony of the National Archives on Nov. 17, 2025. (Courtesy of PO)
Artifacts from the 1989 housing affordability protests show how rising prices spurred civic mobilization.
A mural tracing milestones including constitutional reform and peaceful transfers of power celebrates Taiwan’s rise as a vibrant and resilient democracy.