In the 100 years covered by this collection of documents, Taiwan (or Formosa as it was called by the Portuguese) experienced war, revolution, invasion, and changes of regime, as well as the interaction of Chinese, Japanese, the aboriginal inhabitants in the interior of the island, and the European traders and visitors in the coastal areas. From 1861 (when the first British Consul landed on the island) until 1895 the island was an integral part of the Empire of China, suffering during this time a Japanese attack in 1874 and a French attack in 1885. In 1895 as a result of Japan’s defeat of China, the islands were ceded to Japan, but not before an independent Taiwanese republic was briefly set up in the interregnum between the departure of the Imperial Chinese administration and the arrival of the Japanese. For the next 50 years, from 1895 until 1945, the islands were part of the Japanese Empire. The defeat of Japan in the Second World War meant the return of the island to China in 1945 and rule from Peking; but the success of the Communists in the Chinese Civil War and the flight of the Nationalist Government to the island in 1949 meant that the island ceased yet again to owe allegiance to the Government in Peking and became “Nationalist China”. This was the position in 1960 when this series of reports ends.
ARRANGEMENT OF VOLUMES
Typical content of the reports
The reports provide factual and analytical accounts of political events, and statistical summaries of commercial activity.
The following extract shows the typical format of a pre-World War II report:
Annual Report on Formosa for the Year 1935
II. Government General
I. Military and naval appointments
I. Imperial visits
I. Internal affairs
I. Local self-government
I. Control of Aborigines
I. Dangerous drugs
I. Foreign relations
Communications and Public Works
I. Roads, railways and harbour works
XIV. Budget estimates
XV. Economic conditions
XVI. Trade with British Empire
XXI. British Shipping
The revised American policy towards Formosa consequent upon the Truman statement of 27th June has now begun to take shape. The apparent rejection by the Chinese Communists of any suggestion of neutralizing Formosa as intended in the Truman proposals has obliged the Americans to rely more heavily on the Nationalists for the defence of the island. The visit of General MacArthur and the arrival of a large Military Liaison group to survey defence requirements have been interpreted by the Nationalists, however, as evidence that America will now co-operate with them in the Chinese civil war and assist them back to the mainland. The two attempts which the Nationalists have made to resume air operations against the mainland appear to have met with American disapproval, but they continue to maintain the blockade and interfere with the foreign flag shipping with impunity.
The attitude of the Nationalists has caused widespread anxiety in many countries lest American support for Chiang Kai-shek should lead to hostilities with Communist China. In consequence, American policy, motivated on the one hand by the desire to neutralize Formosa and limit hostilities and on the other by the necessity of utilizing the Nationalists for the defence of the island, which might enlarge the present hostilities, has continued to vacillate. The criticism of MacArthur's visit to Formosa, the withdrawal of the latter's message and President Truman's subsequent statement implying that American protection of Formosa would be withdrawn on the restoration of the peace in Korea have caused apprehension in all circles in Formosa. Anxiety in Nationalist circles has been augmented by America's agreement to hear the Communist charges of aggression against Formosa in the Security Council, and her willingness to settle the status of Formosa in the United Nations. The Nationalists fear that this will undermine their whole position and are determined to resist consideration of this issue. ... "