Abstract: In this paper, the time and space distribution, the focal mechanism and the regional stress field of strong earthquakes since 1900 in Taiwan and its eastern sea region have been studied. The results show that there are three seismic areas and four active periods of strong earthquake (M≥ 7) from 1900 to 1999 in Taiwan region. The fault plane solutions of 27 strong events since 1933 w ell represent characteristics of the regional stress fields of the three seismic areas. In com parison with the five active episodes of the China's continent, strong earthquakes in Taiwan preceded ones of the continent generally. We infer that the fourth active period of Taiwan, which has begun since 1986, and the fifth one of the continent would last till the early stag e of this century.

Key words: Seismicity focal mechanism, Stress field, Strong earthquake, Taiwan region