Research On Defence Of Taiwan In Late Qing Dynasty

In Late Qing Dynasty, China was confronted with series of serious crisis in territorial sea. Taiwan, as the largest island of China, also faced alien invasion and conflicts, therefore, the Qing government had to adjust its policy toward Taiwan, and commenced the construction and development of Taiwan’s defense, which then became an important course of Taiwan’s history.After just two decades, the Taiwan region changed from a relatively less advanced into the advanced province, which laid a solid foundation for the modernization of Taiwan.In this paper, the construction of defense in the late Qing Taiwan was regarded as a starting point, it will be placed under the historical background. To explore different forces in the construction of Taiwan’s defense and what role they played in the course of history, this paper is divided into the following sections:The first chapter is on the basis of the late Qing crisis for coast defense, put the policy of Qing government in order, as well as its assessment of Taiwan’s strategic position. In the first hundred years of Qing rule, due to neglect of maritime hegemonies, the government was lack of enthusiasm for Taiwan’s defense and development. The crisis for coast defense In Late Qing Dynasty, especially the outbreak of Peony Club Incident, and the rise of the Third discussion on coast defense made Qing government aware of the importance of Taiwan as a fortress of vital importance. Review of Taiwan’s strategic position, marks that the Qing government changed its traditional policy of territorial waters, in this context the construction of Taiwan’s defense started off thereupon.The second chapter is about the practice of coastal defenese at Taiwan in late Qing, Taiwan’s coastal defenese had multiple levels. Politically, the ruling of the government was extended to the whole land, during the development process in Taiwan, the construction of railway、the development of the telegraph and the exploit of Keelung mine promote the modernization of Taiwan; while innovation in arms of Taiwan machinery Bureau also played an important role in coastal defenese at Taiwan in late Qing.The third chapter is to discuss Xiang and Huai two faction strife in Taiwan under the background of political situation in the late Qing Dynasty, as well as its impact on Taiwan’s defense construction. The construction of Taiwan’s defense is a major defense construction promoted by the Qing government.and the status of Taiwan as a fortress of vital importance makes the somebodies deeply involved. Taiwan was once under the influence of Xiang fraction, taking the advantage of admittance for Huai Army to Taiwan, Li Hongzhang began to step in Taiwan affairs. After that, the two fractions discorded but also cooperated, Taiwan is also involved in the political situation in the late Qing Dynasty. In such an environment, the construction of Taiwan’s coastal areas surpassed the level of local construction, became a stage on which different local factions wrestled with each other and challenge the central government.The fourth chapter is to discuss the relationship between the constructions of Taiwan’s defense and help and clamp from Fujian. In the view of regional relations between Fujian and Taiwan, exploring the construction of Taiwan’s defense. Before the establishment of Taiwan Province, Taiwan is governed by Fujian Province. Only one strait separated Taiwan from Fujian, which created a special relationship between the two. Construction commenced in the process of Taiwan’s defense changed the relationship between Fujian and Taiwan, Taiwan’s status began to rise, and finally led to the estalishment of the province of Taiwan. Meanwhile, changes in the relationship between Fujian and Taiwan, especially Taiwan’s defense construction conflicting with Fujian, made Fujian apathetic toward Taiwan’s defense construction, which also reflects the plight of Taiwan’s defense construction in the geographic political region to some extent.The fifth chapter is returned to local gentry in Taiwan to explore there relations with Taiwan’s defense construction. Although it was driven by the government, but it also got help from local gentry.Local gentry in Taiwan formed late, but because of Taiwan’s characteristics as an immigrant society, Taiwan’s local gentry had strong economic strength and power influence in local area. In the course of Taiwan’s defense construction, the gentry in Taiwan offered great financial and military help. Therefore, expect the impact of the mainland, local Taiwan people also had participated in the construction of Taiwan’s defense, they made an important contribution to the construction of Taiwan’s defense.Thus, the achievements of Taiwan’s defense construction, were not simply results of a superincumbent national will, but the fruits of multi-party cooperation and coordination at multiple levels, which closely related to complex political and social environment in the late Qing Dynasty.