The Filipino Bid for Taiwan

"Ilha Formosa. Taiwan will touch your heart."

(Fahrenheit)

Fort San Domingo, more known locally as
Fort Red Hair (紅毛城), is located in New Taipei.
Photo courtesy of Neil Wade Photography

At first glance, there appears to be a love-hate relationship between the Philippines and Taiwan (Republic of China or Chinese Taipei, depending on perspective). On one hand, Taiwan offers visa-free perquisites for Filipino tourists, and expects the Philippines to do the same. More or less 400,000 Filipinos visit Taiwan annually, already a significant increase in recent years. It is likely for a Filipino knowing someone who has already visited Taiwan, many of which tour only the northern part (including Taipei itself). On another, surveys show the Philippines is one of the most hated countries by the Taiwanese, even more hated than the People's Republic of China, which claims the island as its territory (in Deng Xiaoping's terms: One Country, Two Systems). Worse, there are continuing incidents in sea lanes between Taiwan and the Philippines, such as those in the Batanes and Babuyan areas. However, there appears to be more into foreign relations between the Philippines and Taiwan that goes further than a few decades in history. Is it probable that Filipinos are being attracted to come to Taiwan not only because of its present realities but also for its historical interactions?

Filipino-Spanish experience in Isla Hermosa
When looking at a contemporary map, Filipinos may notice why Taiwan is included in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), with some asking in jest: "Baka sa atin naman talaga ang Taiwan?" (Maybe Taiwan is really ours.) Of course, the PAR is more of a meteorological entity than a political one, but beyond common knowledge, the latter might really have been the case as well had historical developments occurred differently. The Spanish colonial administration had only been existent in the Philippines for six decades when international affairs required their greater attention. The potential threat of Japanese warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi had just passed, but Spain had entered war against the Dutch, and thus bringing the Philippines as another battlefield as early as 1600. In 1624, the Dutch landed and occupied part of Southern Taiwan (now Tainan). Geographically speaking, this is dangerously near the Philippines. The Spanish had already been wary of Hideyoshi using Taiwan as a forward base to conquer the Philippines as early as 1596. Hideyoshi never did, but Japan would do so later on, during the Second World War (1939-1945). Also, with Dutch holdings in Taiwan, Spanish trade in Asia is put into peril, particularly their economic benefits with China, a vital element to the galleon trade. As a countermeasure, Spain sent troops to Northern Taiwan (now part of Taipei), an area surveyed by Spanish explorer Hernando de los Rios Coronel as a potential base since 1597. Led by Governor General Fernando de Silva, 200 Spanish and 400 Filipino soldiers, all veterans of the earlier military campaign in Macao (Macau), proceeded to land and establish a base in Taiwan on May 5, 1626. For the Spanish, Taiwan was known as Isla Hermosa, which is simply the translation from the Portuguese name Ilha Formosa, or Beautiful Island. However, the colonizers did not seem to appreciate any beauty besides its strategic function. As one Chinese trader put it, "No one can stay there for one, two, or three months without becoming sick." Therefore, the Spanish did not take time to make friends, despite efforts to impress the Chinese, whereas the Dutch took in Chinese traders in the south. The Spanish were particularly known for their segregation and apparent distrust of Chinese, using the Chinatown in Manila as pattern for the Chinese enclave they have established in Taiwan. Manila's Chinatown, also known as Binondo, turns out to be the oldest Chinese enclave in the world. Then again, it was the native heads who did not exactly welcome the Spanish nor the Dutch. In 1627, there was an incident when one native chief ambushed the Spanish instead of keeping the promise of providing them food in exchange for Spanish aid. Of course, one consideration is that the natives did not yet have the benefit of improved farming techniques, and thus have little food to spare for anyone else besides themselves. The Spanish state of affairs reduced trade in the area, which were usually going north, forcing Manila to subsidize Taiwan for the sustenance of colonial operations. In fact, after the acquisition of Taiwan, revenues from trade decreased. Nonetheless, infrastructure wise, what would later be the center of Taiwanese development in the north can actually be attributed to the foundation first built by Filipinos.

Spanish Hermosa (green) and Dutch Formosa (purple)
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

The Spanish, still determined to further develop the north as an economic center, saw an opportunity with the Japanese, who began trading there in 1632. However, the sakoku edict decreed by the new shogun, Iemitsu Tokugawa, closed Japan to the world in 1635, along with it dashing hopes for future Japanese trade. Despite economic challenges, the new colony was making progress elsewhere. Missionaries reported at least 1,800 Christians among the native population, whereas some lamented that if the Spanish followed the Dutch example, it would not have to worry much about the lack of resources. Of course, they were unlike the Dutch, who were not so keen in evangelizing than doing business. At the very least, if Taiwan cannot be fully conquered by economic means, it might have still been possible culturally. For one, Christianity is the third largest religion in Taiwan to date, following Buddhism and Taoism. Besides, Filipinos and Taiwanese might be quite close in terms of culture, at least prior to colonization. Another aspect of concern is defense. A wooden fortress, Fort San Salvador, was quickly built by Filipino labor in 1626. A year later, the Spanish launched an attack against the Dutch at Taoyuan, which is just near the Spanish occupation zone, but their ships were taken off to Penghu (Pescadores Islands) due to a typhoon. Perhaps the only consolation for them is that they have established relations with Penghu's native people. As Dutch expansion in the south remained unchecked, the Spanish resorted to keeping intact what it already has. To increase security, Filipinos were made to build yet another wooden fortress, this time known as Fort San Domingo, in 1629. However, these fortresses were built at the expense of local resources. Seven years later, when Fort San Domingo would be upgraded in exchange for increased taxes, the native population attacked the fortress. Nonetheless, the Spanish was hastily responded, and had the fortress rebuilt, this time in stone. Besides, they heavily relied on military prowess to keep the native population in check, disregarding the possibility of using their Filipino contingent to further develop rapport with the Taiwanese. Perception of weakness ought to reduce one's reputation and control. This was tested when after the attack at Fort San Domingo, the new Spanish governor general, Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, ordered the reduction of forces in Taiwan. This left a core of Spanish commanders of around twenty leading Filipino forces numbering around 200. Famous for his campaign against the Moros led by Sultan Kudarat (Muhammad Dipatuan Qudarat), Corcuera was lambasted for his less known withdrawal from Taiwan in 1637. It was likely that he figured he cannot carry out two military campaigns at extreme geographical peripheries all at once, and Corcuera chose to prioritize the Mindanao campaign. When the Dutch learned from their Chinese allies of the weakened Spanish position, they successfully invaded the north with 369 troops in 1642. The combined Filipino-Spanish forces did put up a fight, wherein they even managed to sink an enemy ship, but they were unable to sustain the action. As for Corcuera, he was put into trial, and despite the fiscal logic of his actions, he was declared guilty in 1645. He was imprisoned, and charged a penalty of 827,007 pesos, presumably the cost of Taiwan's loss from the Philippines. It was a great sum. Assuming three percent (3%) annual inflation appreciated this value from 1645 to 2019, then it present amount would have been around 53.9 billion pesos. However, as scholars would analyze later on, the Filipino-Spanish experience in Taiwan was reflection of the eventual weakening of the Spanish Empire as a whole. For instance, in 1646, the Spanish only had four ships (two in good condition) to combat the challenge of 19 Dutch ships attempting to invade the Philippines. Known as La Naval de Manila (Battle of Manila), it was regarded as a miracle that the Spanish won the engagement at all.

Taiwan's transition from the Philippines to China

Zheng Chenggong, also known as
Koxinga, is a hero known for creating
Taiwan as a nation. Among other places,
he has memorials in Tainan and Xiamen.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

The Dutch built on what the Spanish began in the area. They even renamed Fort San Domingo as Fort Antonio. However, the Dutch also did not enjoy long their newfound superiority in Taiwan. The Chinese pirate Zheng Chenggong (or Koxinga, Coxinga, Kuesing, Coseng, Koxingka, Tehing-Tehingcorg) led an expedition against the Dutch to add Taiwan in the Chinese sphere of influence, and he succeeded in 1661. The pirate had acquired great reputation as he led Ming forces against the Qing from 1646. His largest battle was in 1659, when he commanded 100,000 troops to take Nanjing (Nanking). Also, despite his opposition to the Qing (Ching), his conquest of Formosa for the Chinese was regarded as a heroic act, despite himself establishing Taiwan as a kingdom independent from Qing China. To this day, Taiwan can be seen with memorials in honor of Koxinga, with some elevating him to a status of a national idol, even a god, who is ought to be worshiped. Only Chiang Kai-shek's memorial is larger anywhere in Taiwan to this day. It appeared that Dutch rapport with Chinese in Taiwan became their undoing as the latter flocked to Koxinga. Before his invasion, a rebellion conducted by around 5,000 Chinese already weakened the Dutch, with some saying that Koxinga would be their "powerful ally." The Spanish knew this possibility, and they are already dealing with a string of local rebellions launched by "kings" in Pampanga, Pangasinan, and Ilocos. Thus, they ordered the killing of Chinese suspected to potentially join Koxinga when the pirate comes for the Philippines next. Locally known as Sangleys, the Spanish regarded the Chinese among the lowest classes, even lower than Filipinos. This culture remained in the Philippines long after the Spanish had left the archipelago. However, there was no repeat of the Sangley Rebellion (1603) as Koxinga died in 1662. He did not get to carry out the invasion of the Philippines, which the religious translated as yet another miracle at par with Hideyoshi's demise.

It might even be posited that had it not been for the Dutch-Spanish rivalry over Taiwan, the Chinese would have not laid claim on the island at all. Significant trade has been recorded between Taiwan and China, as well as Japan, since at least the 1500s. However, it did not seem to carry much importance for either nations. Japanese pirates would raid Chinese and Philippine coastal areas, while Chinese pirates would raid Japanese and Philippine coastal areas, but none would carry them out against Taiwan. If anything, the Portuguese Ilha Formosa, and subsequently the Spanish Isla Hermosa, appears to be more of a public relations stunt to convince their governments to take action in the resulting power vacuum. As it had been observed elsewhere, the Chinese in particular would only take interest when centralization done by others begins in the area, a process hastened by both the Spanish and the Dutch settlements. Even when China had consolidated control of Taiwan centuries before ceding the island to Japan in 1895 as a result of the First Sino-Japanese War, many Chinese would not know where Taiwan was. What matters is that China was defeated, humiliated if you will, by a nation it once regarded as a second-rate power. In that aspect, Taiwan appears to have experienced the same treatment as the Philippines, wherein many in Spain, and later in the United States, did not know where the archipelago was. As Jose Rizal would note, he would be called many things, from being Chinese to being an American, but never a Filipino. He was even asked if Manila was near the Philippines. However, this treatment did not deter Taiwan to become an economic tiger thereafter, capitalizing on what its former colonizers thought its only strategic purpose was, and building on the foundation already laid by them. As a result, it can be said that Taiwan bloomed into a truly beautiful island, with an economy even bigger than that of the Philippines (474 billion USD vs 314 billion USD in 2017). Of course, it would only remain in speculation if Taiwan would have been better remaining under the Philippines. Would have it been taken away by a future colonizer just as the United States did with other Filipino possessions such as the Carolines (Carolinas), Marianas, and Guam? Would have it joined the Philippine Revolution? Anyway, Taiwan served as a stopover for weapons and materials imported to the revolutionaries. Would it have been defended in the Second World War? A lot of possibilities might have been missed in the past, but the future remains a field to be ventured. As Filipinos visit Taiwan, and the Taiwanese visit the Philippines, may it always be remembered how Filipinos made an important impact in forming Taiwan as it is today.

See the references here.