Taiwan: A New History (review)

Taiwan: A New History is a "collaborative history," to use Murray A. Rubinstein's terminology, that seeks to develop several themes: (1) that Taiwan's political, socioeconomic, and religio-cultural background is defined by China's expansion; (2) that the island's history is influenced by the conflict and cooperation between the native or Aboriginal population and the immigrant Chinese; (3) that Taiwan became "Westernized" as a result of colonization by the Dutch and by Japan (a Western country?) and through missionary and other Western influences; (4) that the Chinese majority in Taiwan evolved from their Fukien and Hakka origins to become more broadly Chinese and develop a unique identity; and (5) that Taiwan has recently developed its own unique political, economic, and social systems—or perhaps not.

The book begins with an essay by Ronald Knapp on the geography and demography of the island that incorporates information on early migrations and some early history. It does not present much that is new to anyone who has read moderately about Taiwan. On the other hand, it provides a good introduction for those who have not.

The second chapter, by Michael Stainton, is about Taiwan's native or Aboriginal population: their origins, culture, politics, and more. Though short, this chapter contributes to the debate concerning the roots of the earliest settlers, and thus to the historical controversy over whether or not Taiwan is part of China.

Chapter 3 is actually more about China than Taiwan, including a discussion of the demographic, economic, and military history of Fukien Province, the part of China to which most of the current population of Taiwan trace their ancestry. This chapter is informative but may be too tangential for the average reader.

The next chapter, by John Wills, covers Taiwan under Dutch colonization and then local rule. This chapter is well written, but is too short to do justice to this critical period of Taiwan's history, when the island changed in very important ways. Events during this period also constitute grist for arguments about Taiwan's identity and legal status.

Chapter 4 is about the early period of Chinese rule in Taiwan, when the island was classified as a frontier area and revolts and instability were common. Chapter 5 focuses on local elites in Taiwan in the latter part of the Chinese imperial period. Chapter 6 looks at local elites. Chapter 7 concerns treaty ports and Taiwan's becoming a province of China. Though the reader must be alert to the significance of what these chapters say, they offer some idea of the evolutionary change that took place in Taiwan over a period of more than two centuries of association with China, and relate to the question of whether or not Taiwan is historically a part of China.

In chapter 8, Harry Lamley analyzes the period of Japanese colonization, from 1895 to 1945. He attempts, generally with success, to present a more "Taiwanese" assessment of the island under Japan's control. This chapter also serves to conclude what might be called the purely historical part of this book.

The next chapter deals with a survey of Taiwanese literature, and, while informative, it does not lend very much to an understanding of Taiwan's history because it is too brief and pursues other than historical themes.

Chapter 10, by Steven Phillips, deals with the period from 1945 to 1948, from the return of Taiwan to China to just before the Nationalists were defeated on the mainland and fled to Taiwan. It is perhaps the most controversial period in Taiwan's history, and in some ways its darkest. Though the author cannot do justice to the February 28 "revolt" and the reasons for and implications of this event due to limitations of space, he does put the event in perspective by relating it to the preceding colonial period.

Chapter 11 analyzes Taiwan's early economic development and the beginning of...