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Rebel Island: the incredible history of Taiwan
The gripping history of Taiwan, from the flood myths of indigenous legend to its Asian Tiger economic miracle — and the renewed threat of invasion by China.
Once dismissed by the Kangxi Emperor as nothing but a ‘ball of mud’, Taiwan has a modern GDP larger than that of Sweden, in a land area smaller than Indiana. It is the last surviving enclave of the Republic of China, a lost colony of Japan, and claimed by Beijing as a rogue province — merely the latest chapters in its long history as a refuge for pirates, rebels, settlers, and outcasts.
Jonathan Clements examines the unique conditions of Taiwan’s archaeology and indigenous history, and its days as a Dutch and Spanish trading post. He delves into its periods as an independent kingdom, Chinese province, and short-lived republic, and the transformations wrought by 50 years as part of the Japanese Empire. He examines the traumatic effects of its role as a lifeboat in 1949 for two million refugees from Communism, and the conflicts emerging after the suspension of four decades of martial law, as its people debate issues of self-determination, independence, and home rule.
Once dismissed by the Kangxi Emperor as nothing but a ‘ball of mud’, Taiwan has a modern GDP larger than that of Sweden, in a land area smaller than Indiana. It is the last surviving enclave of the Republic of China, a lost colony of Japan, and claimed by Beijing as a rogue province — merely the latest chapters in its long history as a refuge for pirates, rebels, settlers, and outcasts.
Jonathan Clements examines the unique conditions of Taiwan’s archaeology and indigenous history, and its days as a Dutch and Spanish trading post. He delves into its periods as an independent kingdom, Chinese province, and short-lived republic, and the transformations wrought by 50 years as part of the Japanese Empire. He examines the traumatic effects of its role as a lifeboat in 1949 for two million refugees from Communism, and the conflicts emerging after the suspension of four decades of martial law, as its people debate issues of self-determination, independence, and home rule.
379 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 8, 2024
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About the author
Jonathan Clements
153 books124 followersJonathan Clements is an author, translator, biographer and scriptwriter. His non-fiction works include biographies of Confucius, Marco Polo, Mao Zedong, Koxinga and Qin Shihuangdi. He also writes for NEO magazine and is the co-author of encyclopedias of anime and Japanese television dramas.
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May 16, 2025Clements packs a lot into this book: prehistory to 2024. I know very little about Taiwan/Formosa, so I can't really evaluate how complete or balanced it is, but it seemed to be consistent with bits and pieces I've picked up elsewhere. He presents a pretty clear timeline of the succession of occupations and brief periods of independence that have occurred in the last 500 years or so. He also gives a lot of attention to the history and role of the indigenous Taiwanese.
One could take away a continuing theme of brigandage and corruption. Or one could take away a continuing theme of Taiwan's sense of its own identity and creative resistance to various occupiers. The final two or three chapters do a pretty good job of describing how the mutual agreement of one China on both sides of the strait with no insistance on one government is maintained as administrations come and go, even as it is being strained right now.
One could take away a continuing theme of brigandage and corruption. Or one could take away a continuing theme of Taiwan's sense of its own identity and creative resistance to various occupiers. The final two or three chapters do a pretty good job of describing how the mutual agreement of one China on both sides of the strait with no insistance on one government is maintained as administrations come and go, even as it is being strained right now.
April 20, 2024
Despite having been born in Taiwan and one whose family is the ‘benshengren’ (ie my ancestry is that of the settlers who came to the island before the Japanese annexation), I have little knowledge of its history prior to WWII.
This was a wonderful look into Taiwan’s history from its prehistory to the end of President Tsai’s term as president. History is always much more complex than it seems and as much as one would wish that it can be neatly defined, it never truly is black and white and in the case of Formosa/Taiwan this is very true.
This was a wonderful look into Taiwan’s history from its prehistory to the end of President Tsai’s term as president. History is always much more complex than it seems and as much as one would wish that it can be neatly defined, it never truly is black and white and in the case of Formosa/Taiwan this is very true.
July 18, 2025
As Taiwan increasingly finds itself at the centre of global headlines—caught between democratic aspirations and authoritarian claims—understanding the island’s history has never felt more urgent. Rebel Island by Jonathan Clements offers a compact, accessible, and compelling account of Taiwan’s past, helping readers make sense of the forces that have shaped this fiercely debated territory.
My interest in the book was driven by a desire to understand the historical roots of Taiwan’s contested status, especially in relation to the People's Republic of China's claims. I wanted to separate historical fact from political narrative and see how Taiwan’s unique path—colonial, imperial, nationalist, and democratic—complicates the picture.
Prior to 1624, Taiwan was inhabited by various Indigenous tribes, each with distinct cultures and languages. The Dutch established a colonial base in the south of the island in 1624 under the auspices of the Dutch East India Company. A few years later, the Spanish created a presence in the north, but were expelled by the Dutch in 1642.
Following the fall of the Ming dynasty, loyalist forces under Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) fled to Taiwan in 1661 and drove out the Dutch. In 1683, the Qing Empire conquered Taiwan, incorporating it as a frontier territory. It remained on the periphery of the Qing realm until 1887, when it was formally declared a separate Chinese province—just eight years before being ceded to Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895.
Taiwan remained under Japanese rule for fifty years, until the end of World War II, when it was handed over to the Republic of China under Chiang Kai-shek. After his defeat on the mainland by Communist forces in 1949, Chiang and his nationalist government retreated to Taiwan and imposed martial law, which lasted until 1987. The island’s first democratic presidential election took place in 1996, marking the beginning of its modern democratic era.
In clear, engaging prose, Clements invites readers to reconsider Taiwan not as a political pawn but as a place with its own deep, varied, and resilient history. Rebel Island is a necessary read for anyone trying to understand Taiwan today—not just as a headline, but as a people with a past and a future.
Timeline of Important Events:
- Prehistoric and early times - Various indigenous tribes at Taiwan island develop distinct cultures and languages, many of which persist today.
- 1624 – Dutch Establish Fort Zeelandia: The Dutch East India Company takes control of southwest Taiwan, building a colonial base at Anping (modern Tainan).
- 1626 – Spanish Establishment in the North: Spain briefly holds part of northern Taiwan (Keelung), but are expelled by the Dutch in 1642.
1661 – Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) Arrives: Ming dynasty loyalist forces defeat the Dutch and establish the Kingdom of Tungning, using Taiwan as a base to resist the Qing dynasty.
- 1683 – Qing Conquest of Taiwan: The Qing dynasty annexes Taiwan after defeating Zheng’s descendants. Taiwan becomes a frontier province, often treated as peripheral.
- 1874 – Japanese Expedition: In retaliation for the killing of shipwrecked sailors, Japan launches a military incursion, pressuring Qing China to assert greater control over Taiwan.
- 1887 – Taiwan Becomes a Province: Previously part of Fujian, Taiwan gains status as a separate Chinese province in an effort to modernize and defend it.
- 1895 – Treaty of Shimonoseki: Following defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, Qing China cedes Taiwan to Japan.
- 1895 – Brief Republic of Formosa: Taiwanese elites declare a short-lived republic, quickly crushed by Japanese forces.
- 1900s–1930s – Modernization and Resistance: Japan industrializes Taiwan but faces repeated indigenous resistance (e.g., the 1930 Wushe Rebellion).
- 1937–1945 – Wartime Mobilization: Taiwan becomes a critical base for Japan's imperial expansion. Taiwanese are pressured to assimilate, with some fighting in Japan’s army.
- 1945 – End of WWII: Taiwan is handed over to the Republic of China (ROC) under Chiang Kai-shek after Japan's defeat.
- 1947 – 228 Massacre: A popular protest against corruption and repression erupts; the ROC brutally suppresses it, killing thousands and initiating the “White Terror.”
- 1949 – ROC Retreats to Taiwan: After losing the Chinese Civil War, Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalists flee to Taiwan, imposing martial law.
- 1987 – End of Martial Law: After four decades, Taiwan begins democratization under President Chiang Ching-kuo.
- 1996 – First Direct Presidential Election: Taiwan holds its first fully democratic election, solidifying its democratic institutions.
- 2000 – Peaceful Power Transfer: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) wins the presidency for the first time, marking a major shift from KMT rule.
- 2014 – Sunflower Movement: Student-led protests against a trade pact with China galvanize a younger generation in defense of Taiwanese sovereignty.
- 2020–2024 – Tsai Ing-wen Presidency: A pro-independence DPP president strengthens ties with democratic allies while managing rising pressure from Beijing.
My interest in the book was driven by a desire to understand the historical roots of Taiwan’s contested status, especially in relation to the People's Republic of China's claims. I wanted to separate historical fact from political narrative and see how Taiwan’s unique path—colonial, imperial, nationalist, and democratic—complicates the picture.
Prior to 1624, Taiwan was inhabited by various Indigenous tribes, each with distinct cultures and languages. The Dutch established a colonial base in the south of the island in 1624 under the auspices of the Dutch East India Company. A few years later, the Spanish created a presence in the north, but were expelled by the Dutch in 1642.
Following the fall of the Ming dynasty, loyalist forces under Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) fled to Taiwan in 1661 and drove out the Dutch. In 1683, the Qing Empire conquered Taiwan, incorporating it as a frontier territory. It remained on the periphery of the Qing realm until 1887, when it was formally declared a separate Chinese province—just eight years before being ceded to Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895.
Taiwan remained under Japanese rule for fifty years, until the end of World War II, when it was handed over to the Republic of China under Chiang Kai-shek. After his defeat on the mainland by Communist forces in 1949, Chiang and his nationalist government retreated to Taiwan and imposed martial law, which lasted until 1987. The island’s first democratic presidential election took place in 1996, marking the beginning of its modern democratic era.
In clear, engaging prose, Clements invites readers to reconsider Taiwan not as a political pawn but as a place with its own deep, varied, and resilient history. Rebel Island is a necessary read for anyone trying to understand Taiwan today—not just as a headline, but as a people with a past and a future.
Timeline of Important Events:
- Prehistoric and early times - Various indigenous tribes at Taiwan island develop distinct cultures and languages, many of which persist today.
- 1624 – Dutch Establish Fort Zeelandia: The Dutch East India Company takes control of southwest Taiwan, building a colonial base at Anping (modern Tainan).
- 1626 – Spanish Establishment in the North: Spain briefly holds part of northern Taiwan (Keelung), but are expelled by the Dutch in 1642.
1661 – Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) Arrives: Ming dynasty loyalist forces defeat the Dutch and establish the Kingdom of Tungning, using Taiwan as a base to resist the Qing dynasty.
- 1683 – Qing Conquest of Taiwan: The Qing dynasty annexes Taiwan after defeating Zheng’s descendants. Taiwan becomes a frontier province, often treated as peripheral.
- 1874 – Japanese Expedition: In retaliation for the killing of shipwrecked sailors, Japan launches a military incursion, pressuring Qing China to assert greater control over Taiwan.
- 1887 – Taiwan Becomes a Province: Previously part of Fujian, Taiwan gains status as a separate Chinese province in an effort to modernize and defend it.
- 1895 – Treaty of Shimonoseki: Following defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, Qing China cedes Taiwan to Japan.
- 1895 – Brief Republic of Formosa: Taiwanese elites declare a short-lived republic, quickly crushed by Japanese forces.
- 1900s–1930s – Modernization and Resistance: Japan industrializes Taiwan but faces repeated indigenous resistance (e.g., the 1930 Wushe Rebellion).
- 1937–1945 – Wartime Mobilization: Taiwan becomes a critical base for Japan's imperial expansion. Taiwanese are pressured to assimilate, with some fighting in Japan’s army.
- 1945 – End of WWII: Taiwan is handed over to the Republic of China (ROC) under Chiang Kai-shek after Japan's defeat.
- 1947 – 228 Massacre: A popular protest against corruption and repression erupts; the ROC brutally suppresses it, killing thousands and initiating the “White Terror.”
- 1949 – ROC Retreats to Taiwan: After losing the Chinese Civil War, Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalists flee to Taiwan, imposing martial law.
- 1987 – End of Martial Law: After four decades, Taiwan begins democratization under President Chiang Ching-kuo.
- 1996 – First Direct Presidential Election: Taiwan holds its first fully democratic election, solidifying its democratic institutions.
- 2000 – Peaceful Power Transfer: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) wins the presidency for the first time, marking a major shift from KMT rule.
- 2014 – Sunflower Movement: Student-led protests against a trade pact with China galvanize a younger generation in defense of Taiwanese sovereignty.
- 2020–2024 – Tsai Ing-wen Presidency: A pro-independence DPP president strengthens ties with democratic allies while managing rising pressure from Beijing.
February 15, 2024
Incredible Place, Incredible Story
This book reminded me of how much I love the image of (now, former) President Tsai holding a bazooka. Probably one of my favorite activist photos of recent memory.
via https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiw...
I enjoyed this book a lot, and I am glad I got it!
This is a truly great book, filled with great history of this amazing country.
Definitely check it out!
4.8/5
This book reminded me of how much I love the image of (now, former) President Tsai holding a bazooka. Probably one of my favorite activist photos of recent memory.
via https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiw...
I enjoyed this book a lot, and I am glad I got it!
This is a truly great book, filled with great history of this amazing country.
Definitely check it out!
4.8/5
September 23, 2025
I picked this up because my knowledge of Taiwanese history is practically zero. I knew that China's former ruler, Chiang Kai-shek, and his followers fled there when Mao Zedong and the Communists took over China. But I didn't know anything about the people who already lived on Taiwan before Chiang Kai-shek's appearance. And I didn't really know what happened afterwards.
There are still huge gaps, but I now have a much better understanding of the interplay between the indigenous population, Chinese settlers, Japanese settlers, and newer Chinese settlers.
I knew going in that this would be heavy with rulers, battles, and politics, as this type of survey histories always are. I will admit that I was lost quite a bit. Especially in the final chapters about the last few decades there was very little about what life was actually like there and a lot about the political parties and their policies/elections. I prefer narrative history, focused on the lives of individuals, or social histories. But as a primer on Taiwan, this satisfied.
There are still huge gaps, but I now have a much better understanding of the interplay between the indigenous population, Chinese settlers, Japanese settlers, and newer Chinese settlers.
I knew going in that this would be heavy with rulers, battles, and politics, as this type of survey histories always are. I will admit that I was lost quite a bit. Especially in the final chapters about the last few decades there was very little about what life was actually like there and a lot about the political parties and their policies/elections. I prefer narrative history, focused on the lives of individuals, or social histories. But as a primer on Taiwan, this satisfied.
June 4, 2024
About as concise as it seems like it can get—fascinating. At once Taiwan’s history is a great history trek through Imperialism and also maybe the fulcrum point of globalization today. Love the inclusion of maybe the greatest semantic trick of all time: the mid-20th century agreement between the PRC and ROC governments that “There is one China and Taiwan is part of it,” helping thaw out relations.
Present: some mirrors into American battles over national identity, history, indigenous people, race science, “melting pots,” rights of claims, statues.
Definitely worth reading! Cannot get the info quicker or more efficiently, just too much. You can feel the rush job to get this out in 2024 sometimes—can’t quite decide between thematic and chronological delineations at points.
Present: some mirrors into American battles over national identity, history, indigenous people, race science, “melting pots,” rights of claims, statues.
Definitely worth reading! Cannot get the info quicker or more efficiently, just too much. You can feel the rush job to get this out in 2024 sometimes—can’t quite decide between thematic and chronological delineations at points.
February 9, 2025
Read while spending a month in Taipei. This book does a masterful job explaining the entire violent and bloody past of this magnificent island. It moves quickly but it is well researched and presented logically. Current cross-straight relations are much better understood by the time the reader gets to the end of the book. What a complicated history! Highly recommended.
January 1, 2025
Must-read for anyone who thinks about, talks about, or cares about Taiwan today, but wants context on the island’s history and its own people’s shifting perspectives.
December 28, 2024
Honestly I read this in preparation of my trip to Taiwan (ended up not doing much with it, all the really fun historical stuff is in the south ) but it was a pretty fascinating (if very succinct) history of the island. It dispelled a few misconceptions I had from my somewhat limited textbook in HS world history. One of them being that the history of Taiwan “starts” with the flight of the KMT and 2 million of their friends to the island; that’s about as true as Singapore being “founded” by Raffles in the 1800s.
All in all, would read something else if you wanted a more in depth retelling (I think some of the European outpost and postwar chapters could be expanded upon), but otherwise a solid enough read on the flight over.
All in all, would read something else if you wanted a more in depth retelling (I think some of the European outpost and postwar chapters could be expanded upon), but otherwise a solid enough read on the flight over.
April 2, 2025
A very interesting read. A telling of Taiwanese history in relation to a wider international landscape. It’s an interesting read and incredibly relevant to the modern day.
April 24, 2025
this is maybe the first non-fantasy book i have ever read on my own free will. and yknow what it kinda went crazy! although maybe i need to read it once more to fully understand, i DEFS get the gist of things and it was written in a very fun and engaging way!
read this in prep for a conference in taiwan later this year and i didnt want to show up and not know anything about taiwan bc that would b embarrassing
read this in prep for a conference in taiwan later this year and i didnt want to show up and not know anything about taiwan bc that would b embarrassing
October 20, 2025
Pretty serviceable introduction to Taiwan. Clements is knowledgeable and engaging but like all pop histories the narrative is overly concerned with anecdotes and personalities. His commitment to periodisation also makes the book a bit uneven: a whole chapter is devoted to the several months of the Republic of Formosa, while the entirety of the Second World War is covered in a few paragraphs.
March 23, 2024
This is an interesting telling of Taiwan’s History. The twelve chapters guide the reader through key periods of Taiwan’s history, starting with the time prior to 1349—before Europeans spotted the island, to Chinese outposts and Dutch colonization, through other stages of occupation, later with the Japanese, the Chinese after World War II, and the martial law period to ultimately a democracy.
There are several unique aspects to this telling.
• While the chapters cover major epics in Taiwan’s history, they are more like a series of vignettes, placed together.
• The vignettes are extremely interesting, offering little-known facts or insights.
• There is a thread that follows the indigenous people, giving more time to their history than other books. In particular, the author cites recent work on archeology in Taiwan.
• The author likes to use songs to capture the mood of the period.
• The final chapter covers the period of President Tsai Ing-wen (to 2024).
• There are many good references, and the author has many footnotes.
Though there is much to Taiwan’s history of any book, the author’s vignettes, one after another, can jar and give a sense of a disconnected story.
The title Rebel Island has both historic and contemporary meaning. The first reference would be to Ming Chinese rebels who fought the Qing, and throughout the Dutch, setting up the kingdom of Dongning. A couple of decades later, when the Qing gained Taiwan and attempted to rule it, there were “uprisings every three years” and revolts every five, according to a Chinese governor. When the Japanese administrated their colony of Taiwan, there were also uprisings. And when the Chinese (KMT—Kuomintang) administered it after World War II, there were protests against the KMT corruption, resulting in a defining moment in Taiwan’s contemporary history. Now, of course, the People’s Republic of China views Taiwan as a renegade province.
The author ends on a philosophical note. After painting the symbiotic relationship between Taiwan and China (economically at least), and the growing rhetoric of reunification by PRC or pointing to Hong Kong’s example by Taiwanese opposed to reunification, he concludes: “It remains to be seen whether Taiwan will be the origin of global influential conflict in East Asia, or a masterclass in diplomacy, teaching on object lesson to the world.”
FB. A brief history of Taiwan told through sometimes disjoint vignettes.
There are several unique aspects to this telling.
• While the chapters cover major epics in Taiwan’s history, they are more like a series of vignettes, placed together.
• The vignettes are extremely interesting, offering little-known facts or insights.
• There is a thread that follows the indigenous people, giving more time to their history than other books. In particular, the author cites recent work on archeology in Taiwan.
• The author likes to use songs to capture the mood of the period.
• The final chapter covers the period of President Tsai Ing-wen (to 2024).
• There are many good references, and the author has many footnotes.
Though there is much to Taiwan’s history of any book, the author’s vignettes, one after another, can jar and give a sense of a disconnected story.
The title Rebel Island has both historic and contemporary meaning. The first reference would be to Ming Chinese rebels who fought the Qing, and throughout the Dutch, setting up the kingdom of Dongning. A couple of decades later, when the Qing gained Taiwan and attempted to rule it, there were “uprisings every three years” and revolts every five, according to a Chinese governor. When the Japanese administrated their colony of Taiwan, there were also uprisings. And when the Chinese (KMT—Kuomintang) administered it after World War II, there were protests against the KMT corruption, resulting in a defining moment in Taiwan’s contemporary history. Now, of course, the People’s Republic of China views Taiwan as a renegade province.
The author ends on a philosophical note. After painting the symbiotic relationship between Taiwan and China (economically at least), and the growing rhetoric of reunification by PRC or pointing to Hong Kong’s example by Taiwanese opposed to reunification, he concludes: “It remains to be seen whether Taiwan will be the origin of global influential conflict in East Asia, or a masterclass in diplomacy, teaching on object lesson to the world.”
FB. A brief history of Taiwan told through sometimes disjoint vignettes.
April 10, 2025
Solidly above average. Far from life changing. Clements manages to put history into breezy, conversational prose that gives you the impression of being regaled by a smart acquaintance and also the sensation that maybe your smart friend isn't taking this conversation totally seriously. Still, "Rebel Island" is a welcome break from dry history.
This volume is fairly brief, yet covers thousands of years of Taiwanese history, so don't expect to get beyond a survey-level work. This is sufficient for almost every reader, I'd guess. I can't imagine many people picking up "Rebel Island" know much of anything about Taiwan, so almost everything Clement shares will seem revelatory. I knew next to nothing about Taiwan three weeks ago, and now, though I can't recall more than one or two character names from the book, I am familiar with the broad arc Taiwan has taken from an island with more in common with New Zealand than China to an island that most people probably don't really understand is actually not China. So I'd say "Rebel Island" does what it sets out to do.
This volume is fairly brief, yet covers thousands of years of Taiwanese history, so don't expect to get beyond a survey-level work. This is sufficient for almost every reader, I'd guess. I can't imagine many people picking up "Rebel Island" know much of anything about Taiwan, so almost everything Clement shares will seem revelatory. I knew next to nothing about Taiwan three weeks ago, and now, though I can't recall more than one or two character names from the book, I am familiar with the broad arc Taiwan has taken from an island with more in common with New Zealand than China to an island that most people probably don't really understand is actually not China. So I'd say "Rebel Island" does what it sets out to do.
October 24, 2025
Jonathan Clements’ Rebel Island is a compelling and passionate exploration of Taiwan - an island that has always seemed to exist in defiance of being claimed. Clements traces its complex history as a place nobody really wanted, shaped by waves of colonisers yet retaining a fierce, indigenous spirit that cuts through every attempt to subdue it.
Once more Japanese than Chinese, Taiwan emerges in his telling as a land of resilience and reinvention. Today, as China covets this small but vibrant democracy, the contrast between the two could not be starker. Clements makes a persuasive case that Taiwan has earned its place as its own nation - not by declaration, but by sheer endurance, ingenuity, and spirit.
Once more Japanese than Chinese, Taiwan emerges in his telling as a land of resilience and reinvention. Today, as China covets this small but vibrant democracy, the contrast between the two could not be starker. Clements makes a persuasive case that Taiwan has earned its place as its own nation - not by declaration, but by sheer endurance, ingenuity, and spirit.
July 22, 2024
fascinating overview of the long long history of Taiwan (Formosa…?); despite not really being able to recall everything I read I feel like I at least have /some/ broad understanding now
clearly concerned with breadth over depth, but still included interesting stories highlighting the overall arguments. it was cool to be able to orient myself wrt Chinese history (when reading about Taiwan’s investments in Guangzhou, Fujian i was like omg I know about this! I’ve read about it!)
towards the end the author gets a little sassy, a little personality driven which is funny
anyways would like to read more about CKS and CCK and the White Terror next…
clearly concerned with breadth over depth, but still included interesting stories highlighting the overall arguments. it was cool to be able to orient myself wrt Chinese history (when reading about Taiwan’s investments in Guangzhou, Fujian i was like omg I know about this! I’ve read about it!)
towards the end the author gets a little sassy, a little personality driven which is funny
anyways would like to read more about CKS and CCK and the White Terror next…
September 21, 2024
From the geography of the island and it's surrounding waters, to its history of its indigenous people, to the first arrival of Chinese, western explorers, Japanese colonialists... to the KMT... then into a prolonged period of martial law to today's Taiwan.... a unique diplomatically isolated entity, yet with tremendous and pervasive reach - probably through that TSMC-made chip on whatever device you are using now...
May 4, 2025
“‘All the major cultures originated in a very restricted area. The 5,000-year Chinese culture also arose from a small region called zhong yuan [The Central Plain]... Equipped with a much higher level of education and development than other areas of China, Taiwan is set to gradually exercise its leadership role in cultural development and take upon itself the responsibility for nurturing a new Chinese culture.’” -p.216 (Lee Teng-hui)
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7.5/10.
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7.5/10.
August 8, 2025
A fascinating and insightful history of Taiwan with many fascinating insights. A good balance between sweeping historical narrative, anecdotes and analysis that creates a very page turning story. The book engages with the historiography and biases of sources and stories with a careful and balanced approach befitting of the subject matter.
December 5, 2024
I enjoyed this book and found it very informative. I would argue it was primarily focused on the case of the indigenous peoples of Taiwan. It was hard to follow at times since it jumps around in terms of time periods. This book is more informative, as it doesn’t offer a “story-telling” narrative.
December 9, 2024
One of my favourite history books. I read it while vacationing in Taipei. His ability to connect names and historic events throughout the book is very helpful, reminding the reader of the implications of newer historical events with what happened in the previous chapters.
November 15, 2024
This was an eye-opener for me. I always assumed that Taiwan was always part of China apart from a Japanese interlude but the truth is far more complicated and interesting.
December 1, 2024
A lot, perhaps too much, is packed in, but this seems to be pretty much only one of the recent pile of English histories of Taiwan to be actually *about Taiwan* rather than about Geopolitics.
April 6, 2025
It was hard to follow along. To advance for a person who doesn’t know a lot of China
May 2, 2025
Great book about Taiwan that doesn’t just focus on Taiwan vs China only politics.
June 1, 2025
Great, easy intro to a complex history.
November 3, 2025
A little 'heavy', a lot of detail, but very interesting.
April 21, 2024
Taiwan was first settled by a range of indigenous peoples, whose history has, till recently, often been ignored. They fought internecine wars and formed various alliances. They practiced head hunting (literally) and hunting was an important part of their culture. During the Ming dynasty, there was in influx of Chinese from the mainland, including Hakka (people originally from the North of China who were forced to flee to the south and typically had to live in more marginal areas as other areas had already been settled) and Hokkien (literally: people from Fujian). The Qing then decided to colonise Taiwan, though they never had full control over the island, particularly the eastern part. The Japanese used this as an excuse to take control of the island in 1895 (as part of the Treaty of Shimonoseki) and remained in charge till 1945 (though having to deal with resistance throughout, including the bloody Musha incident of 1930, a consequence of their heavyhandedness). After the second world war the island was "returned" to China (a dubious action given its history) which led to many deplorable incidents as e.g. captured in George Kerr's "Formosa Betrayed". The island was much wealthier and further advanced than the mainland. Clements relates the amusing incident of a teacher teaching students to count by counting the legs of a chair and upon being informed by one of the students that before they were studying quadratic equations decides to retire as he has no knowledge of this topic. After the loss of the mainland to the communists, the KMT fled to Taiwan and dominated politics for decennia afterwards (though only constituting only about 12% of the population). Taiwan was under martial law during this period and dissidents were harshly dealt with. Around 1979, Taiwan's political system opened up and opposition was allowed. In recent times the anti-KMT party, DPP, has mostly been in power, leading to a distancing of the KMT era and policies as well as more attention to indigenous peoples issues. It is amazing how much Taiwan has changed in the last 50 years. The author has written an eminently readable book - I have found this to be the case with all his books that I have read - with many interesting stories and background. Highly recommended.
June 29, 2025
Don't think the author is a historian, but reads well and concisely informative. Has delineated key timeframes well for further reading if interested (further reading section assists).
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews