Book Description
For centuries, various great powers have both exploited and benefited Taiwan, their designs for this island frequently clashing with the desire of local inhabitants to control their own destiny. Such conflicts have shaped Taiwan's multiple, and frequently contradictory, identities. Denny Roy contends that Taiwan's political history is best understood as a continuous struggle for security. Eschewing the usual emphasis on the high politics of the recent era, he offers a comprehensive narrative of the island's political history from the first Chinese settlements to the Chen Shui-bian presidency. Roy covers the political system constructed by the KMT during the Cold War, the opposition breakthrough, the presidency of Lee Teng-hui, and the DPP presidentialvictory in March 2000.

Roy's approach allows him to integrate his understanding of Taiwan's domestic politics with its foreign affairs—particularly the relations with mainland China. He reveals how the interplay between political forces within and the influence of foreign countries from without has shaped Taiwan. His is a balanced account, incorporating up-to-date coverage and presenting many indigenous voices. Taiwan: A Political History illuminates the origins of the island's often-troubled domestic and international political situation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

decent, but a bit dull
the book prevents the basic facts, but lacks analytical depth. a good intro nonetheless for beginners. for a more detailed approach, check out "The Generalissimo's Son" though that book as well is not too engaging theoretically or analytically.

A good introduction to Taiwan's history
As the title of my review implies, this is a valuable volume for the person who is interested in developing an understanding of the complex forces that shape Taiwan today.

Roy takes up Taiwan's history from the beginnings of Chinese settlement of the island and the Japanese Occupation.However, the bulk of the book focuses on Post-World War II Taiwan.While it focuses on the political history of the country, other aspects are not ignored.My main criticism is that although this purports to be a political history, the main criticism of the legitimacy (or lack thereof) of "Chinese" sovereignty (regarding the so-called Post WWII transfer to China) over the country is ignored.Save for that ommission, this is a servicable summary of modern Taiwan political history.

I would recommend this book for someone wishing to learn a little about Taiwan before coming to the country.For a person wishing to engage in an in depth study of the country, this would be a good volume to start with.However, if you already have a basic understanding of the major forces shaping this country (particularly post-World War II,) I would advise passing this work by for more in depth works on the subject.

A very interesting book about Taiwan history
I was born in Taiwan and completed my college education in Taiwan. The Chinese history text books focus on the story of the mainland China. I have not known too much about Taiwan. For some reasons my grandparents and parents did not talk too much about it either.

This book opens my eyes and I could not stop reading it. Even though the book is very comprehensive some of the information the author got is either manipulated, biased or missing. It is far from perfect. There is a lot of truth about Taiwan to be explored. For example Koxinga was given the credit of defeating Dutch and then occupied Formosa. But he lived
only 4 monthes after defeating the Dutch. He was a pirate and very brutal. He excuted his new born grandchild and grandchild's mother. He is more like a refugee than a hero. The main reason he came to Taiwan is he was escaping from Qing dynasty's attack.

Because of Taiwan's democracy a lot of information are more readily available and people does not afraid of being talking about the past I believe the author might want to update this
book soon.

"Even-handed, thorough, and accurate"
Review by Prof. Shelley Rigger, the top U.S. scholar on Taiwan, in TOPICS magazine, May 2003: "Nowhere else will readers find such an even-handed, thorough, and accurate account of Taiwan's recent history. What is more, the book is a pleasure to read, balancing rich historical details and anecdotes with thoughtful analysis. Roy's book provides the most complete and in-depth account of Taiwan's post-World War II political development available in English. However, much of the value of the book comes from his determination to situate the island's postwar history in the context of Taiwan's pre-war experience. As a result, Roy is able to offer satisfying answers to some of the most puzzling issues facing students of contemporary Taiwan, including islanders' complicated feelings toward Japan, China--even Taiwan itself."

Useful introduction to the various ethnic groups in Taiwan
As a member of the Hakka folks born in Taiwan (now living in the U.S.), I greatly appreciated the detailed explanations of the various ethnic groups in Taiwan.Sometimes it takes a Western writer to provide objective unbiased account of Taiwanese history and Denny Roy did just that.
The book at times was a little dry to read, almost like reading a textbook.But overall, I enjoyed reading this book which contains history not taught during my 8 years ofelementary/junior high school education in Taiwan.An eye opener! ... Read more

Book Description
For over 400 years, Taiwan has suffered at the hands of multiple colonial powers, but it has now entered the decade when its independence will be won or lost. At the heart of Taiwan's story is the curse of geography that placed the island on the strategic cusp between the Far East and Southeast Asia and made it the guardian of some of the world's most lucrative trade routes. It is the story of the dogged determination of a courageous people to overcome every obstacle thrown in their path. Forbidden Nation tells the dramatic story of the island, its people, and what brought them to this moment when their future will be decided. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Concise History of Taiwan
Manthorpe has filled a vital need, writing a concise, highly readable history of Taiwan and its Chinese inhabitants.Although he does discuss the aboriginal tribes in the early chapters and touches upon their interactions with the various settlers, invaders and would-be exploiters, be they Chinese, Japanese or Westerners, the main focus of the book is Chinese people who started moving to Taiwan 400+ years ago and their relationship with mainland China.Manthorpe begins the book with the 2004 assassination attempt on President Chen Shui-bian, and then moves back in time to the first peoples traveling to Taiwan in prehistoric times. The book quickly jumps to the seventeenth century and progresses through Dutch Rule, Ming Dynasty, Qing Dynasty, the Japanese occupation, return to Nationalist Chinese rule, and bringing up to the present and the blossoming of Taiwan's democracy.It is a roller coaster of events, and Manthorpe ties in the happenings on Taiwan with the relevant activities in the rest of the world.Although written for a popular audience, the author has included a comprehensive bibliography and footnotes for someone who wants to explore any part of the history in greater detail.There are only 2 aspects that detract from the story.Manthorpe strongly supports Taiwan's independence.Although there are many arguments for independence (as well as many against), they tortured logic that he sometimes employs greatly weakens the argument.For example, because the Qing dynasty only ruled over the western plains, and ignored the mountainous aboriginal tribes and their territory, he argues that this part of the island was not ever part of Imperial China. They may have been left alone, but these tribes were not exactly treated as a sovereign kingdom either.Another minus is that this is the typical great men and wars view of history.The reader does not get much perspective of what it would be like as a common person to be around during these times.Nevertheless, Manthorpe has produced a book that reveals the history of Taiwan and illuminates the complexity of the political issues surrounding Taiwan's relationship to mainland China and, indeed, the rest of the world.

Inconsistent focus but enjoyable read
As someone who plans on spending some time in Taiwan in the near future, I was interested to learn more about its history. I found this book to be a good overview, and it held my attention much more closely than I had expected. I learned some things that I had never suspected about Taiwan's influential history as a focal point of East Asian sea trade (and piracy!).

Some reviewers have noted that this book tends to be selective in its focus, giving much more time to ancient history than to modern events (especially recent). This is a valid criticism, perhaps, but personally I enjoyed the historical narrative of pirate kings, wars, and the mysterious mountainous interior, as opposed to the endless modern political debates.

-The bottom line:
For someone seeking an in-depth analysis of Taiwan's modern status as a nation (or not) and relationship to China, there are other works that focus on that specifically. But if you want a good comprehensive understanding of the forces and events that have shaped Taiwan and its people throughout the ages, I can't think of a better read.

Excellent book
This is a great book about Taiwan history.The author has sharp observation and indepth knowledge of the history of Taiwan.A valuable reference.

Brisk History of Taiwan
Forbidden Nation, by Manthorpe offers a condensed look at the history of the Taiwan, ranging from its physical formation and theories over how it was originally peopled, up to the modern day political landscape.

Within 300 pages, Manthorpe paints a rich guide to highly politicized issue of Taiwanese identity, weaving together aboriginal, Chinese, and Japanese cultures.The bias in Manthorpe's writing is fairly evident, heavily in favor of the DPP over the KMT in modern era politics, and refusing to pull any punches regarding how the KMT establishes itself in Taiwan.

Inevitably, such a brief guide to such an extensive history will suffer from glossing over some important subjects, and it seems that Manthorpe spends little too much time in ancient history, and chooses to focus on episodes of significance (such as the leadup to 1985 Japanese occupation, 1949 KMT retreat, and 2004 election).Additionally, each chapter appears as if it was written independently of the others, and Manthorpe often repeats facts.Whether this is design or flaw, I do not know, but each chapter of the book can be pulled out and read fairly well on its own.

Overall, the book offers a concise yet effective overview of the complicated history of a little yet important island in the Pacific.

Solid History
Forbidden Nation: A History of Taiwan, by Jonathan Manthorpe, is an insightful study not only of a country, but the peculiar circumstances leading up to its peculiar contemporary existence. The author starts with a look at Taiwan's March 2004 election, examining the fallout from the assassination attempt on President Chen Shuibian. Chen's injury was a violent exclamation point to what had been a very contentious campaign. Perhaps the author chose to focus on this episode as a means of showing how passionate the Taiwanese are about politics. While an attempted assassination far exceeds the bounds of properdecorum when politicking, the act may have been emblematic of Taiwanese perceptions of what was at stake in their society. Add that pivotable moment to a host of others and what unfolds is a comprehensive history of strife, survival, prosperity andambiguity.Manthorpe backtracks from the travails of present Taiwanese events, providing in subsequent chapters a history of the island from its prehistoric settlement by early humans to the 2004 elections.

In relating the history of Taiwan, Manthorpe shows how China's claim to the island holds as much substance as its claim (if it has one)to the officially recognized sovereign nations of Southeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula. What is clarified in the book is Taiwan's role as a convergence point for an intersecting host of people, interests and ideologies. Cold War imperatives produced a dichotomous world view among American policy makers. The world was split between Communist and the so-called Free World. That dichotomy extended to China and Taiwan, with the repressive and corrupt Kuomintang in Taiwan standing vigilant against the Totalitarian hordes of mainland China.

Manthorpe highlights the looming threat of an increasingly assertive China. However, he understands that the Kuomintang, dominated by mainlanders, was little more than a colonial master lording it over the native Taiwanese population. It is the native population that Manthorpe brings attention to, driving home the point that native Taiwanese were oppressed or threatened by all parties, Ming and Manchu dynasts, Japanese, Communist and Kuomintang. He also covers America's schizophrenic relations with the island; on one hand, supporting it with rhetoric and weapons, on the other, courting China at the expense of Taiwan's status as a UN recognized nation.

Very recently has Taiwan become a true democracy. However aggressive its politics may be, however many vestigial shackles from its martial law days it must shed, it will be a tragedy of monumental proportions if the shining light of Taiwan's democracy were to be blotted out beneath the shadow of mainland tyranny. Manthorpe presents the Chinese threat in stark relief. China's military buildup shows no sign of abating, niether will it likely soften its position on Taiwan, which it considers to be a wayward province.

For China, Taiwan's submission to its authority is non-negotiable. For Taiwan, unification is equally out of the question. For now, the United States is committed to protecting Taiwan. But, Manthorpe's view of U.S. protection is pessimistic. How long will that commitment remain in place? As long as it is in America's interest, he suggests. Manthorpe offers no prospects for a happy ending in Taiwan's ongoing saga. Of course, he does not does not offer a sad one either.Taiwan still has a rough road to travel as it navigates between an enemy that wishes it snuffed out of existence and "friends" that keep it from taking its place in the community of nations. Forbidden Nation is as much an indictment of Taiwan's treatment on the world stage as it is a well laid out history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

An excellent survey of Taiwan's history
This is one of the most complete books on Taiwan and its history available in the English language.The reading is dense in places and is highly academic, but for anyone who has a background in Taiwan's history and wants to get in depth, this would the volume for you.

Beginning from Taiwan's physical environment, other specialists focus on aboriginal Taiwan, the encroachment of the Minnan people, from the Dutch and Cheng to incorporation by the Ching Dynasty.The late ninteenth century receives some coverage in depth.There is also a frank assessment of the Japanese occupation years.

About half of the book is devoted to post- World War II Taiwan. Political, religious, modernization and other topics of modern Taiwan are discussed in depth.Unfortunately, due to the dating of the book, recent democratic developments are not covered (the book stops shortly following President Lee Tung Hui's popular election as President).However, for anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of Taiwan, other than actually living here, this book is one of the best options available.

For the novice on Taiwan, I recommend reading Denny Roy's "Taiwan:A Political History first."It is an excellent read and not as dense as this work.

poorly written; no organization or structure
This book was a major disappointment.Each chapter is written by a different person; the book is really just a collection of dry academic articles slapped together, with no organizing structure.The alleged editor is also one of the contributing authors, and it doesn't appear that he did much editing at all.The overall quality of the book is substandard, with amateurish and badly printed black and white photographs taken by the editor.

Worst of all, judging by the first two selections, the writing is pretty awful.Here's a sample of the obtuse academic style you will find in this volume:
"The Chinese hegemonic project of making Taiwanese aborigines part of the Chinese nation was incompatible with the developing counterhegemonic aboriginal project of affirming their distinct identity and political rights as indigenous people."(page 37)
Hard to believe that such a passage could have been written by a native English speaker, much less that it actually got published!

Instead of this volume, I recommend Denny Roy's book, which is quite well-written.

Taiwan-A new History
A must have book for Taiwan research.

The Editor/Author's Response
This is a response to Denny Roy's review. Prof. Roy is indeed a rival of sorts having recently written a political history of Taiwan that may soon be published. He and a number of others find my definition of history--or rather my broad conception of history--troubling but I will stand by it. I have called on the resources of the best people I know in the subfield of Taiwan studies and they have produced admirably researched and written chapters. The book is designed as a comprehensive single volume work that provides an introduction to Taiwan and all facets of its history. Thus literature, religion, geography, ethnography, and culture are included in the mix. Some scholars such as Prof Roy and Prof. John Copper among them are are more focused on politics but there is more to history than politics in this new and decidedly multi-cultural and post modern world. One person's comprehensiveness is another's choppiness but so be it. I think the book is well integrated and the individual authors have worked through, in good measure, the themes spelled out in the introduction. One other important point The political struggles KMT-dangwai of the 1970s and 1980s, struggles I saw first hand on Taiwan are dealt with within the context of the matrix of events and are part of a large scale political narrative. They are not however the only subject of this long chapter. In other books I have focused on this period and its actors such as Lu Hsiu-lien as well as the Presbyterian Church but this was not the time for such detail. Pro. Roys own focus on the modern period is well done indeed but then he writes a formal "poltical" history, while I do not. One final point: What I find annoying is the tone of the review at certain points, particularly the comments on the concluding section. I think they work and they sum up the book and its major themes.

I invite others who know the book such as Alan Wachman and other Taiwan hands or China hands as well as journalist and members of the public to add their voices to this discussion of a book that many recognize as an invaluable work for scholar and lay reader alike.

A hodgepoge of uneven quality
There are few recent books that attempt to cover all of Taiwan's history, making Rubinstein's effort valuable and appreciated.I found parts of it useful in writing my own book on Taiwan's history (yes, let's acknowledge that this reviewer has a potential conflict of interest).Almost all edited books, however, suffer from the difficulty of achieving unity and thoroughness while avoiding repetition with the ensemble cast of authors with their own styles and interests.Rubinstein's book is no exception.I found chapters 4 through 8, 10 and 11 excellent history.Other periods, however, were not so well covered.I found it astounding that the book does not include a chapter on the political opposition's successful campaign to force the KMT government to begin to liberalize in the 1980s, an extremely important period in Taiwan's history.Yet the book throws in chapters on Taiwan's geography, religion and literature.Rather than a "history," the book is really an assemblage of chapters on history, political science, geography, economics, and humanities--different layers made of clay, plastic and metal, with no attempt to integrate them.This book is better understood, perhaps, as a Taiwan reader.I must also mention that Rubinstein's writing at the end of the book is uncharacteristically poor and rough, as if he rushed through it to meet a deadline.Overall: worthwhile, but does not fulfill its promise.(If my book gets published, I'll be bracing for Rubinstein's retaliation.) ... Read more

Book Description
Writing Taiwan is the first volume in English to examine the entire span of modern Taiwan literature, from the first decades of the twentieth century to the present. In this collection, leading literary scholars based in Taiwan and the United States consider prominent Taiwanese authors and works in genres including poetry, travel writing, and realist, modernist, and postmodern fiction. The diversity of Taiwan literature is signaled by the range of authors treated, including Yang Chichang, who studied Japanese literature in Tokyo in the early 1930s and wrote all of his own poetry and fiction in Japanese; Li Yongping, an ethnic Chinese born in Malaysia and educated in Taiwan and the United States; and Liu Daren, who was born in mainland China and effectively exiled from Taiwan in the 1970s on account of his political activism.

Because the island of Taiwan spent the first half of the century as a colony of Japan and the second half in an umbilical relationship to China, its literature challenges basic assumptions about what constitutes a “national literature.” Several contributors directly address the methodological and epistemological issues involved in writing about “Taiwan literature.” Other contributors investigate the cultural and political grounds from which specific genres and literary movements emerged. Still others explore themes of history and memory in Taiwan literature and tropes of space and geography, looking at representations of boundaries as well as the boundary-crossing global flows of commodities and capital. Like Taiwan’s history, modern Taiwan literature is rife with conflicting legacies and impulses. Writing Taiwan reveals a sense of its richness and diversity to English-language readers.

Contributors. Yomi Braester, Sung-sheng Yvonne Chang, Fangming Chen, Lingchei Letty Chen, Chaoyang Liao, Ping-hui Liao, Joyce C. H. Liu, Kim-chu Ng, Carlos Rojas, Xiaobing Tang, Ban Wang, David Der-wei Wang, Gang Gary Xu, Michelle Yeh, Fenghuang Ying ... Read more

Book Description
This concise account of Taiwan's history makes a cogent, compelling argument for the right of the Taiwanese people to declare their nation independent, if they so choose. Davison's bold stand--unprecedented from a Western author--challenges the "one China" notion advanced in the Shanghai Communique of 1972 and states unequivocally that, should independence be proclaimed, it could only be taken away by force if the international community sides with contemporary might over historical right. He argues that the possible conflict could be sufficiently incendiary to induce a major military clash between the United States, the People's Republic of China, and other major powers. Davison lets the facts of Taiwanese history make the case for Taiwan's existence as a unique national entity. A historical overview details the circumstances under which the Qing dynasty made its 17th century claim on the island, the events that led to cession to Japan in 1895, the origins of the Guomindang occupation during the Chinese Civil War, and the dramatic election of March 2000 that brought the Democratic Progressive Party's Chen Shuibian to office, ending Guomindang domination. After centuries of outsider domination, and over a hundred years of disconnection from any government exercising power over all of mainland China, the Taiwanese people are in a position to make a decision for national independence based on solid historical evidence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Go for Copper's Taiwan first
I'm still new to the small field of English historical writing to Taiwan: so far I've only read this book and _Taiwan: Nation-state or Province?_ by John Copper. I have to say, Copper is clearly the more mature researcher and the superior writer. Copper's work, similar in length, scope, and purpose to Davison's (not to mention cheaper!), is based on a much more complete bibliography, a longer experience among Taiwan researchers in Washington, and despite the title, a clearer argument for Taiwan's historical and cultural independence from China.

Much of Davison's book is a summary of history texts used in Taiwan - authors Qi Jialin, Zhou Mingfeng, and Huang Dashou are mentioned particularly often. Thus, if you wish to start investigating history books about Taiwan written in Taiwan, Davison's book offers a kind of introduction. But for a purely general introduction, I can't really say there is anything in Davison I could not have gotten from Copper if I had read that one first. ... Read more

Product Description
Traditional characters. ... Read more

Product Description
From the inside jacket of the book: Taiwan (Ihla Formosa) has long experienced the fate and of being an "island in the stream." Caught up and by numerous historical, cultural and physical crosscurrents running between the East and South China Seas, the people of this island have struggled with identity and survival. Outside forces have had their shaping influence. Strong also has been the influence of the island's many immigrants and indigenous peoples. Taiwan's history is a story of struggle and adaptation. In the new millennium the people have directly elected a new president in a democratic transference of power; but the island faces new challenges, that of membership in the United Nations and the World Trade Organization and the unresolved "one China question" with the People's Republic of China. ... Read more

Book Description
When Chiang Kai-shek fled from mainland China, his military was in disarray. Today, it appears to be a modern, well-equipped and well-trained force. But how capable is it? This book offers the first in-depth explanation and evaluation of Taiwan's defense forces and infrastructure. The author not only examines in detail each of Taiwan's military services, with descriptions of their organization, equipment, and personnel but also assesses the defense infrastructure as a whole with a focus on the ongoing attempt to civilianize that organization.

As the Taiwan Strait remains the focus of international tension between China and the United States this volume provides essential base-data and evaluation of the one of the major participants in this crisis and in this concluding part offers a comparative framework of Taiwan versus PRC militaries, with analysis of likely future developments between the two states, based on that comparison.

This book will be essential reading for students of Asian security, Asian politics, International Relations and Security Studies as well as to analysts and policy-makers. ... Read more

Book Description
Series Editor: Akira Iriye, Harvard University

The volumes in this series critically assess United States foreign relations since 1945 by presenting both historical and contemporary information on the effect that U.S. politics and economics have had on a multitude of areas around the world. Each volume is an authoritative, readable account by a preeminent historian and includes:

• A concise chronology of major events
• Background on pre-1945 history
• Details on the development and impact of U.S. foreign policy
• Explication of themes in postwar international relations
• Insights into the effects of U.S. policy on people worldwide
• Illustrations, bibliographic essay, and index

Customer Reviews (1)

Clear and Meaningful
I had the chance to get into the classes "American Diplomatic History I and II" taught by Professor Tucker. This book is exactly reflects her outstanding teaching skills: it is clear, very well documented and it brings more than just knowledge. It bringsan understanding of the events, of what was at stake then, all that is necessary to analyze the current challenges in the region. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Parameters, published by Thomson Gale on December 22, 2006. The length of the article is 2056 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Resolving China and Taiwan's differences.(Untying the Knot: Making Peace in the Taiwan Strait)(Taiwan's Security: History and Prospects)(Book review)
Author: Larry M. Wortzel
Publication: Parameters (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 36Issue: 4Page: 124(4)

Article Type: Book review

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Customer Reviews (1)

neglected history
The chapters largely describe Taiwan in the 19th century. Of these, the most notable concerns the Japanese invasion of 1895. Largely ignored, even today, by many European and American-written histories of the 19th century. Yet that invasion was the harbinger of future actions of a newly industrialised and expansionist Japan, looking for territories to conquer. It was Taiwan's misfortune of geography and history to be one of the first targets.

We see how the weak imperial Ch'ing government in Peking was unwilling and largely unable to offer much resistance to the invasion of Taiwan. And the Taiwanese resistance proved shortlived and futile. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from San Diego Business Journal, published by Thomson Gale on March 27, 2006. The length of the article is 590 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Taiwan's story one of prosperity.(History of Taiwan)
Author: Tom Plate
Publication: San Diego Business Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 27, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 27Issue: 13Page: 55(1)

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Book Description
This digital document is an article from Pacific Affairs, published by University of British Columbia on March 22, 2004. The length of the article is 862 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Taiwan: A Political History.(Book Reviews)(Book Review)
Author: Murray A. Rubinstein
Publication: Pacific Affairs (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2004
Publisher: University of British Columbia
Volume: 77Issue: 1Page: 119(3)

Article Type: Book Review

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Book Description
This digital document is an article from Naval War College Review, published by Thomson Gale on June 22, 2007. The length of the article is 534 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Cole, Bernard D. Taiwan's Security: History and Prospects.(Book review)
Author: Michael S. Chase
Publication: Naval War College Review (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 22, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 60Issue: 3Page: 135(2)

Article Type: Book review

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Book Description
This is a collection of papers on philosophy of science,conceptual history of science, and sociology of science written byTaiwanese scholars. It is perhaps one of the best, written byTaiwanese, in all Chinese-speaking societies. Some works in it showOrientals study topics that are typically Western philosophy ofscience. Others show how traditional topics in the history of Chinesescience (mathematics, optics, and geology) could be studied with highsensitivity to the philosophy and sociology of science. It alsotouches upon issues of the `autonomous' development of social sciencesin Taiwan, a society whose academic researches are greatly influencedby the West. This collection will prove stimulating and valuable togeneral and scholarly readers alike who are interested in philosophyand history of science, especially as related to East Asia and theWest.
The book will interest scholars in philosophy of science, philosophyof language and psychology, studies of philosophy of science in thethird world, history of Chinese science, history of science in EastAsia, and history of mathematics.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Congress and Taiwan: Who Said What
Last year was the 20th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which was first written as a protection for Taiwan against abandonment of its people and government by the administration of Jimmy Carter and its successors. The bill became law and survives until today.This work appeared tocoincide with that anniversary.The law provides that this country willmaintain Taiwan's ability to resist a coercive settlement by the Beijinggovernment. It has provided a center line for U.S. policy in the WesternPacific, but not without its detractors and would-be renovators.Trying tosort out the political threads that run through our relations with Chinaand Taiwan, and the positions taken by Members of Congress, past andcurrent, I found this book to be useful.It has organized relevantsections of the Congressional Record by section of the Act, some of whichreceived no attention, while others, much discussion.It covers the periodform 1994 to 1998 (ending with the 105th Congress), and captures the changein tone from the Democratic-controlled Congress to the Republican-led.Itcontains several useful appendices which provide a useful view of thesecurity situation in the Taiwan Strait, as well as the positions of theTaiwan Government and the Clinton Administration.I was interested in whatsome specific Congressmen had said, and an index of names made that easy todetermine.It isn't easy or light reading, but useful for those trying toanalyze the interaction of Congress, the Administration, and our foreignpolicy in a critical part of the world ... Read more