Course Details

As the status of the Republic of China, on the island of Taiwan, becomes the focus of increasing geo-strategic speculation, this course takes a long-term look at the island’s history, specifically challenging the PRC’s claim that "Taiwan" has "always" been a part of "China." We start with the early 17th century efforts by the Spanish and Dutch to colonize the island and continue with the massive Han migration during the Ming/Qing transition on the Chinese mainland. From there we look at Taiwan as a constituent part of the Qing empire since 1684, and then as a Japanese colony, from 1895 to 1945. Next, we look at Taiwan’s role during the Nationalist/Communist Chinese Civil War, and then as the refuge of the Nationalist government from 1949 on. We conclude with Taiwan’s experience in the last quarter of the 20th century, as its thriving economy made it one of East Asia’s “Little Dragons” and its political system evolved in a vibrant democracy.