Chapter 21 The Making of Taiwan Province, 1872–1887 The wars for control over Taiwan in the seventeenth century between the Dutch, the Ming loyalist Zheng Chenggong, and the Qing Empire ended when the Manchus annexed the island in 1683. The Manchu overlords proved re- luctant colonizers who were satisfied with keeping Taiwan out of the hands of its enemies, making it a part of Fujian province, and maintaining an inner frontier zone on the island between Han settlers and the upland indigenous population. Starting in the 1860s, however, the “Beautiful Isle” (Formosa) found itself an object of colonial desire by the European treaty port powers, Qing self- strengthening modernizers, and Japanese imperialists. Intense global interest in Taiwan re-emerged in the immediate aftermath of the Second Opium War (1856–1860), when the island became part of the treaty port system with the opening of Danshui (Tamsui) and Anping (Tainan). Relatively quickly, Taiwan was integrated into long-distance trading networks as global markets hungered for its sugar, camphor, and tea. This demand led to an increase in commodity production and the penetration of Han settlers into upland areas to harvest camphor and open lands for tea cultivation, which only worsened interethnic strife with the indigenous peoples. Despite the con- flicts, the quick and easy profits to be had only whetted the appetite of impe- rialist interest in Taiwan. In late 1871, the indigenous Paiwan people murdered more than fifty sail- ors from the Liuqiu (Ryukyu) archipelago, who had become marooned on the southern tip of Taiwan during a typhoon. The massacre sparked a heated debate between the Qing and Japan over the sovereignty of both Taiwan and the Liuqiu Islands that ended with a Japanese “punitive” expedition against the aborigines in 1874. In response, the Qing appointed Shen Baozhen, the di- rector of the Fuzhou Shipyard, as an imperial commissioner to deal with the Japanese and to begin a reform program that would ensure Qing sovereignty over Taiwan. Shen Baozhen, Ding Richang, and Liu Mingchuan, the three most famous ranking officials in Taiwan between 1874 and 1891, brought the self-strength- ening approach to the island. Over these seventeen years, Shen, Ding, and Liu strengthened Qing military control by purchasing Western guns, building forts, and reforming the local Green Army forces; expanded local government by in- creasing the number of administrative offices and districts; fostered economic modernization by attempting to enhance Taiwan’s revenue base through fiscal © koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2018 | doi 10.1163/9789004361003_023 The Making of Taiwan Province, 1872–1887 225 rationalization; bolstered gentry formation and the spread of elite culture; and encouraged Han colonization in the aftermath of a series of aggressive “pacification” campaigns against the indigenous peoples known as “Opening Up the Mountains and Pacifying the Aborigines” (kaishan fufan 開山撫番). Government reforms on Taiwan accelerated after Liu Mingchuan became gov- ernor of Fujian and defender of Taiwan during the Sino-French War of 1884–85. In the years after the war, Liu rebuilt damaged military installations, expanded the railroad network, started a steamship company, expanded telegraph lines, and opened a modern post office. In 1885, the Qing Court also authorized the creation of Taiwan province, with Liu as its first governor, but it would take until 1887 for all the necessary preparations to be completed. July 14, 1872 The viceroy and lieut.-governor of Fujian report that the commander-in-chief of the provincial forces has gone to Formosa on a tour of inspection. In the 53rd year of the reign Qianlong (1788) the following edict was received by the Fujian authorities.1 Formosa, from its isolated position and the turbulent character of its inhabitants, is a convenient spot for plotting and sedition; we therefore direct that the Manchu general, the viceroy, lieut.-governor and commander- in-chief make, in routine, periodic visits to the island, and forward a report thereon to the Throne. A similar edict was received in the 11th year of Jiaqing, and again in the 15th year of the same reign. The latter edict ordered that the visit should be biennial. But since 1847 the only visit to the island was made by the admiral of Fujian, in 1867. The authorities have therefore felt it their duty to depute one of their number to visit it this year, and have accordingly sent the commander-in-chief. He started from Xiamen in a steamer, and has already arrived at Formosa. As soon as he has completed his tour, a report will be for- warded to the Throne. April 16–17, 1874 The Governor-General of Fujian and Zhejiang memorializes respecting the appointment of an officer to fill the post of colonel of the naval brigade in 1 In 1788, the Qing government suppressed a major Triad uprising known as the Lin Shuangwen rebellion on Taiwan..