Introduction

Welcome to Taiwan’s Untold Story, a three-part series exploring the rich and often overlooked history of Taiwan. I’m your host from the Tocqueville Liberty Institute, and in this first installment, we’ll journey through Taiwan’s ancient origins, its early colonial periods, and the seeds of its enduring desire for liberty. This series was inspired by a personal experience during my last trip to Taiwan, where I had the privilege of meeting the daughter and son-in-law of Lin Yi-hsiung, a pivotal figure in Taiwan’s democracy movement. Their story, and the work of the Tsuna Foundation, set the stage for this exploration.

A Personal Connection to Taiwan’s Democracy

During my visit to Taiwan, I met the family of Lin Yi-hsiung, a prominent opposition leader who faced unimaginable tragedy in 1980. While imprisoned for his political activities, his mother and twin seven-year-old daughters were murdered in their home—a crime widely believed to be politically motivated. His eldest daughter, Judy Lin, survived the attack. Through Lin’s son-in-law, I was introduced to the Tsuna Foundation and its democracy museum in Yilan, near Taipei. The foundation, named “Tsuna” (meaning mercy or compassion), embodies the philosophy that collective action can drive meaningful societal change.

The Tsuna Democracy Museum chronicles Taiwan’s remarkable transition from authoritarian rule to a vibrant democracy, preserving the memory of those who sacrificed for freedom. It underscores the fragility and value of democratic institutions, a mission that resonates deeply with the Tocqueville Liberty Institute. Named after Alexis de Tocqueville, the 19th-century French thinker who studied American democracy, our institute advocates for liberty within a republican framework, where individual rights and constitutional constraints protect against majority overreach. Taiwan’s journey from authoritarianism to a liberal constitutional order exemplifies this balance, making it a powerful case study for global audiences.

Taiwan’s Indigenous Origins

Taiwan’s story begins not with external powers but with its indigenous peoples, who have inhabited the island for at least 30,000 years. Recognized today as 16 distinct tribes, these communities developed sophisticated societies with unique languages, cultural practices, and governance systems. Taiwan is considered the homeland of the Austronesian peoples, a vast linguistic and cultural family that spread across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Archaeological evidence, DNA analysis, and linguistic studies confirm Taiwan as the origin of the Austronesian expansion, one of humanity’s most remarkable migrations. From Taiwan, Austronesian peoples settled islands as far as Madagascar, Easter Island, New Zealand, and Hawaii, with crops like quinoa showing genetic links to the island.

Early European Contact and Dutch Colonization

European contact with Taiwan began in the 16th century when Portuguese sailors in 1544 named the island Ilha Formosa (Beautiful Island), a name that endured for centuries. The Spanish briefly established a presence in the 1620s, but it was the Dutch who left the first significant colonial mark. In 1624, the Dutch East India Company set up a trading post in southwestern Taiwan, building Fort Zeelandia near present-day Tainan. They developed agricultural production, particularly sugar and rice, using imported Chinese labor. The Dutch introduced Christianity, Western education, and the first romanization system for indigenous languages. However, their rule was short-lived, lasting only 38 years.

Koxinga and the Ming Loyalist Kingdom

In 1662, a fascinating figure, Zheng Chenggong (known as Koxinga), ended Dutch rule. Born to a Chinese merchant father and Japanese mother, Koxinga was a Ming dynasty loyalist who controlled maritime trade routes between Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Often described as a “pirate king,” he blurred the lines between trader, pirate, and naval commander. After losing ground to the Qing dynasty in mainland China, Koxinga set his sights on Taiwan. With a fleet of hundreds of ships and thousands of soldiers, he besieged Fort Zeelandia, forcing the Dutch to surrender after nine months.

Koxinga established an independent kingdom on Taiwan, envisioning it as a base to recapture the mainland for the Ming dynasty. He implemented Ming-style governance, encouraged Chinese immigration, and promoted agricultural development. Tragically, Koxinga died shortly after his victory, reportedly from malaria. His son and grandson continued his legacy, but by 1683, the Qing dynasty defeated Koxinga’s grandson, bringing Taiwan under Qing control.

Qing Dynasty Rule: A Turbulent Frontier

The Qing dynasty’s relationship with Taiwan was complex. Initially viewing the island as a troublesome frontier, they restricted migration and showed little interest in development. Qing administration was confined to the western plains, while the central mountains and eastern coast remained under indigenous control. Taiwan was known as a turbulent place, with frequent rebellions—a common saying was, “Every three years a minor revolt, every five years a major one.” In 1885, the Qing upgraded Taiwan’s status to a province, reflecting growing international interest in the island.

The First Sino-Japanese War and the Taiwan Republic

In 1895, following China’s defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War (or Manchu-Japanese War), the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan in the Treaty of Shimonoseki—without consulting the Taiwanese people. In response, local elites declared the Taiwan Republic, also known as the Republic of Formosa, on May 25, 1895. With its own flag, currency, and stamps, it is considered by some historians to be Asia’s first republic. Led by President Tang Jingsong, the republic sought Western recognition to resist Japanese takeover, but no support came. Despite fierce resistance, particularly in central Taiwan, Japanese forces conquered the island by October 1895.

Japanese Colonial Rule: Modernization and Suppression

From 1895 to 1945, Japanese colonial rule profoundly transformed Taiwan. Unlike their brutal exploitation of Korea, the Japanese treated Taiwan as a model colony to showcase their imperial prowess. They invested heavily in infrastructure—railways, roads, hospitals, schools, and irrigation systems—modernized agriculture, developed industry, and established a public health system that reduced deaths from diseases like malaria. By the end of the colonial period, over 70% of Taiwanese children attended elementary school, an exceptionally high rate for Asia at the time. Many Taiwanese pursued higher education in Japan, becoming doctors, lawyers, and engineers.

However, Japanese colonialism came with significant drawbacks. Taiwanese were treated as second-class citizens with limited political rights. The colonial government suppressed Taiwanese culture and language, promoting Japanese customs instead. Economic development primarily benefited Japan, with Taiwanese serving as producers of raw materials and consumers of Japanese goods. By the 1920s, a Taiwanese home rule movement emerged, led by educated elites who sought greater autonomy within the Japanese Empire. They established newspapers and cultural associations, spreading ideas of self-governance by reading news aloud in village squares. Limited concessions, like local elections in the 1930s, were granted, but full home rule never materialized.

As Japan’s militarism intensified in the 1930s and 1940s, colonial policies hardened. Many Taiwanese were drafted into the Japanese military or labor corps during World War II. In the central mountains, indigenous communities resisted, with the 1930 Wushe Incident—led by Chief Mona Rudao of the Seediq people—marking a significant uprising. The Japanese response was brutal, including the use of poison gas. This history was later depicted in the 2011 Taiwanese film Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale.

The End of Japanese Rule and an Uncertain Future

Japan’s surrender in August 1945 ended World War II and Japanese rule in Taiwan. The Cairo Declaration of 1943 stated that territories Japan had taken from China, including Taiwan, should be returned to the Republic of China. However, the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco was ambiguous about Taiwan’s status. In the interim, Chiang Kai-shek’s Republic of China government was authorized to accept Japan’s surrender in Taiwan. General Chen Yi arrived as governor, representing the Allied powers. Initially, the Taiwanese welcomed the Chinese as liberators, expecting better treatment due to ethnic kinship. However, they would soon face bitter disappointment.

Looking Ahead

In the next episode, we’ll explore the tumultuous period following World War II, including Taiwan’s transition to Chinese Nationalist rule, the tragic February 28 Incident of 1947, and the 38-year martial law period that followed. These events shaped Taiwan’s identity and set the stage for its democracy movement, which transformed the island into one of Asia’s most vibrant free societies.

Thank you for joining me for Part 1 of Taiwan’s Untold Story. Stay tuned for the next chapter of this remarkable journey.