Statecraft and Political Economy on the Taiwan Frontier

Abstract

This is a study of the Han Chinese settlement of Taiwan, which occurred surprisingly late in Chinese history. Although only 100 miles off the coast of south China, Taiwan's shores never beckoned Han pioneers until the 1600s. One reason for this lateness was that Taiwan was the home of a large population of Austronesian people who were diligent in keeping out intruders. It was not until the Dutch built a fort