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The colonization of Taiwan has been described by historian [[Mark Peattie]] as "an imperial accessory, a laboratory where the 'new boy' among the colonial powers could show off his modernizing skills, not the heart of Japan's strategic concerns."<ref>Peattie, 16.</ref> Those concerns lay chiefly in Korea.
The colonization of Taiwan has been described by historian [[Mark Peattie]] as "an imperial accessory, a laboratory where the 'new boy' among the colonial powers could show off his modernizing skills, not the heart of Japan's strategic concerns."<ref>Peattie, 16.</ref> Those concerns lay chiefly in Korea.
The Japanese authorities in Taiwan were headed by a [[Governor-General of Taiwan|Governor-General]], with [[Kabayama Sukenori]] being the first to hold the post, assisted by a [[Chief of Home Affairs (Taiwan)|Chief of Home Affairs]].
The Japanese authorities in Taiwan were headed by a [[Governor-General of Taiwan|Governor-General]], with [[Kabayama Sukenori]] being the first to hold the post, assisted by a [[Chief of Home Affairs (Taiwan)|Chief of Home Affairs]]. Though Tokyo had some experience guiding colonial administration, as it had done in [[Okinawa prefecture|Okinawa]] and [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidô]], it had no particular long-term plans for Taiwan, and at first allowed an administrative vacuum to develop; into this vacuum flowed military officials inexperienced at political and economic administration, and civilian entrepreneur adventurers and settlers simply looking to make easy profits. It was not until several years later, under the fourth governor-general, [[Kodama Gentaro|Kodama Gentarô]], and his Chief of Home Affairs [[Goto Shinpei|Gotô Shinpei]], that a directed system of administration and development was more fully put into place. Eager to avoid embarrassment in the eyes of the colonial powers of the world, Gotô directed extensive research efforts which then served as the basis for administrative decisions and policies. Over the course of the next ten years or so, the Kodama-Gotô administration transformed Taiwan into a well-coordinate and economically viable territory.
[[State Shinto]] was expanded to Taiwan, with the [[Grand Shrine of Taiwan]] being established in [[1901]].
[[State Shinto]] was expanded to Taiwan, with the [[Grand Shrine of Taiwan]] being established in [[1901]].
===Republic of China===
===Republic of China===
Following the Japanese defeat in World War II, Taiwan was restored to Chinese sovereignty.<ref>Peattie, 22.</ref> It remained connected to the mainland for only four years, however, splitting off in 1949 as the Nationalist (Kuomintang) government of the Republic of China fled into exile on the island, leaving the Communist government to establish the People's Republic of China as ruling the entire Chinese mainland.
==References==
==References==