Chapter 6 : The Late Ching Era

Outline

In the middle of the nineteenth century, Taiwan attracted worldwide attention because of its strategic location and natural resources. The Ching government was forced to open up Taiwan ports to international trade, resulting in increased commerce.

In 1874, the Japanese invaded Taiwan on the pretext that some Ryukyuan people (who inhabited present-day Okinawa Prefecture, Japan) had been killed by Mudan sub-tribe indigenes.[1] This required the Ching government to take a more active approach to ruling Taiwan. Two officials—first Shen Baojhen and later Ding Rihchang—were sent to improve defenses and infrastructure.

After the Sino-French War, which ended in 1885, the Ching government paid even more attention to Taiwan. Taiwan was made a province of the Ching Empire with Liu Mingchuan as the first governor. Liu carried out various construction projects. As a result, Taiwan became the most modernized province of the Ching Empire.

 

6-1 Ports and International Trade

Opening ports for trade

In addition to its crucial strategic position on East Asian sea routes, Taiwan was economically strong. Taiwan attracted international notice for its export of agricultural products like tea, sugar and rice and natural resources like camphor and coal. Though frequent shipwrecks due to the rough waters of the Taiwan Strait was a concern, Taiwan was coveted by the leading nations of the world.

In 1858-60, the British and French Allied Army attacked China. The defeated Ching government was forced to open more trade ports, including four ports in Taiwan: Anping (present-day Tainan), Takao (present-day Kaoshuang), Huwei (present-day Dansheui), and Jilong (present-day Keelung). Foreign merchants set up merchant houses in Taiwan, such as Jardine, Matheson & Co., Tait & Co., and Dodd & Co.

 

Imports

After the ports were opened for trade, the major import was opium. In the twenty or so years before the Sino-Japanese War, opium was mainly imported from mainland China, India and Turkey. Opium accounted for more than half of the total trade volume. The second most important item was textiles, mainly from Britain.

 

Exports

        The main export was tea, followed by cane sugar and camphor. In the two decades before the Sino-Japanese War, tea accounted for more than half of the total. 36% of the total was cane sugar, while camphor was a mere 4%.

Tea has mainly been cultivated in the hilly areas of northern Taiwan. Oolong and Baojhong are the most famous kinds of tea. Camphor was produced in central and northern Taiwan, and exported out of Dansheui (Tamsui). Cane Sugar was produced in southern Taiwan, and exported out of Anping or Takao (Kaohsiung). Over time, Takao became more and more important as a port. Tea was mainly exported to the United States and Southeast Asia, while cane sugar was exported to China, Japan, and Australia.

 

International Trade Growth

        After Taiwan ports were opened for international trade, trade with China continued to flourish, and trade with other areas grew. According to official statistics, in the twenty years before the Sino-Japanese War, the total trade volume of Taiwan experienced an annual growth rate of 8%, while trade with mainland China grew 3.4% annually. Also, Taiwan enjoyed a trade surplus after 1878. This growth is very impressive.

 

6-2 The Japanese Invasion and a New Taiwan Policy

Japanese Invasion

        The Japanese ambition to invade Ryukyu and Taiwan can be traced back to the late sixteenth century. In 1871 (Tongjhih Year 10, Ching dynasty), a ship from Ryukyu was hit by a typhoon and was beached near an area in southern Taiwan inhabited by the Mudan indigenes. The Japanese survivors went into a nearby Mudan village and were killed by the inhabitants. This is sometimes called the Mudan Village Incident. Three years later, in 1874, Japan, on the pretext of “punishing the murderers,” sent troops to punish the indigenous people, mainly the Mudan indigenes.

        However, Japanese soldiers suffered severely as they were not accustomed to the weather and the indigenous people were fierce. In addition, the Japanese government was divided on the expedition and did not receive international support. On the other hand, the Ching government, realizing its weaknesses, had no intention of going to war with Japan. In the end, both sides signed a treaty in Beijing, according to which the Japanese made certain gains though they had to withdraw from Taiwan immediately. In addition to giving monetary compensation, the Ching government indirectly admitted that the Ryukyuan people were Japanese and that the Ryukyu Archipelago belonged to Japan. In 1879, the Kingdom of Ryukyu was forcefully incorporated into Japan as Okinawa Prefecture.

 

Accomplishments of Shen Baojhen

        After the Japanese invasion, the Ching government realized that Taiwan was a crucial part of its coastal defenses, that Taiwan must be developed to ensure a safe coast. The Ching government changed its policy and started to rule Taiwan more actively.

        When the Japanese invaded Taiwan in 1874, Shen Baojhen was ordered to come to Taiwan and start active development. To enhance coastal defenses, he built batteries at Anping, Cihou, and Donggang. Shen perceived three problems in Taiwan: official corruption, poor military morale, and population growth. He suggested that the Governor of Fuchien province should be stationed on Taiwan, and that there should be more administration divisions. The administrative divisions were redrawn in 1875. Taiwan was now divided into two prefectures, Taipei Prefecture in the north and Taiwan Prefecture in the south. Also, some sub-prefectures and counties were added: there were now four sub-prefectures and eight counties, divided between the two prefectures. Also, the governor of Fuchien province was now supposed to spend winter and spring in Taiwan, though this did not always happen.

        To develop eastern Taiwan and the mountains, Shen adopted an “indigenous pacification” policy. Han Chinese were allowed to immigrate to Taiwan without application. They could now enter indigenous areas and marry indigenous girls. Shen opened up three roads into the mountains and eastern Taiwan. He not only stationed troops in the mountains and taught the indigenous people new agricultural techniques, but also encouraged Han farmers to cultivate in the mountains. Previously, there had been two special indigenous magistrates, one in the north and one in the south (see Chapter 5). These were now replaced by a central savage pacification magistrate and a south savage pacification magistrate. The central savage pacification magistrate was based in Puli (in Nantou County), and the south savage pacification magistrate was based in Beinan (in Taitung County). The new magistrates had added responsibilities. The old special indigenous magistrates mediated betweenHan Chinese and the plains indigenes. The new savage pacification magistrates were responsible not only for mediation but also for “civilizing” the indigenes and assimilating them into Han society, so that the state could control the mountainous areas of Taiwan more effectively.

 

Reforms of Ding Rihchang

        Ding Rihchang knew well the importance of Taiwan. In 1876 (Guangsyu Year 2, Ching dynasty), he stayed in Taiwan for half a year as the governor of Fuchien Province. During his stay, Ding actively implemented many reforms in education, politics, finance, traffic, and national defense.

 

6-3 Development of Taiwan Province

Taiwan Province and Governor Liu Mingchuan

        As early as the 1870s, many mandarins of the Ching Court were suggesting that Taiwan be upgraded into a province, but they were all ignored. In 1884 (Guangsyu Year 10, Ching dynasty), China and France fought over Vietnam. Aware of the importance of Taiwan, the Ching government feared that France might want to take it. Liu Mingchuan, carrying the title of governor, was sent to Taiwan to supervise military affairs. Not long after, the French attacked and blockaded Taiwan and then occupied Penghu. The Sino-French War caused the Ching government to put even more emphasis on Taiwan. On Oct. 12, 1885 (the fifth day of the ninth month of Guangsyu Year 11, Ching dynasty), Taiwan was formally made a province with Liu Mingchuan as its first governor.

 

Political Reforms

Governor Liu Mingchuan established the provincial capital in present-day Taichung, though he actually executed power from present-day Taipei throughout his term of office. In 1887, he changed Taiwan’s administrative divisions yet again. There were now three prefectures and one independent department (zhou)[2] under Taiwan Province.

Southern Taiwan was now Tainan Prefecture. Central Taiwan was now Taiwan Prefecture. Northern Taiwan was now Taipei Prefecture. The independent department administered Taitung (southeastern Taiwan). In addition, several sub-prefectures and counties were added under the jurisdictions of the three prefectures and one independent department.

Liu took the “indigenous pacification” policy one step further. Indigenous areas where people had not surrendered would be now be forcefully subdued. In places where the indigenous people surrendered, Liu established Pacification and Farming Bureaus and “Indigenous Schools” to teach farming skills and Chinese.

 

Tax Reform

       Previously, corrupt officials, administrative inefficiency and a complicated land system had hampered land tax collection. Liu initiated land surveys and tax reform. He clarified land ownership and made the land tax fairer. These changes led to increased tax revenue.

 

Transport and Communications

        Transport and communications demanded new infrastructure. Ships were bought to connect important ports in Taiwan, China, and Southeast Asia. Telegraph lines were strung between Keelung, Huwei, Taipei and Tainan, all the way to Anping. There were also telegraph wires across the sea, linking Huwei to Fujhou and Anping to Penghu. A postal system was also introduced, with the main office in Taipei and branch offices in major cities. The railroad started from Dadaocheng in Taipei, reaching northward to Keelung in 1891 and southward to Hsinchu in 1893. These projects greatly improved transportation and communication within Taiwan and beyond.

 

National Defense and Education

        Liu was very concerned about coastal defenses. He bought warships, added batteries, established an armaments bureau and an ordnance bureau to manufacture and store weaponry.

        Skilled workers were needed to participate in these projects. To train them, Liu founded institutes of western learning, including “telegraph schools.”

        Liu Mingchuan stepped down in 1891 and was succeeded by Shao Youlian. Shao moved the provincial capital from Taichung to Taipei. However, most development projects were suspended during Shao’s term of office due to financial difficulties. Nevertheless, Taiwan was already the most modernized province within Ching territory.