The current Beijing authorities make bombastic claims as silly as “Taiwan has been part of China since the dawn of the universe!!” The reality, however, is quite different.

Some Chinese dynasties may not have even known of Taiwan’s existence, while others definitely knew, and stayed away. Taiwan was an island filled with “savage” native people, and a great place to die from malaria.

After the forces of Koxinga’s grandson, Zheng Keshuang 鄭克塽, were defeated by Admiral Shi Lang 施琅 in 1683, Qing dynasty China didn't jump at the chance to make the island “a part of China.”

In fact, the great emperor Kangxi 康熙帝 initially thought it best to evacuate Chinese back to China, and leave Taiwan alone. Kangxi went as far as comparing Taiwan to a “skin rash,” saying it will require a lot of “scratching” once they got it.

In the end, Shi Lang convinced the Emperor and Taiwan was absorbed into the Qing dynasty. But only parts of Taiwan.

Links, info, book recommendations, and more at formosafiles.com

LISTEN TO THE STORY OF THE ORANGUTAN CRAZE IN CHINESE!

你相信在1980年代，也就是民國70幾年，在臺灣居然還能看到公然展示殺虎販售嗎？經濟起飛之後，人民變得富裕了，但也開始追求各種稀奇的「補品」或玩賞的動物。雖然今日的臺灣已經不再有這麼誇張的狀況，但就讓我們來聊聊，過去臺灣在野生動物保育上的一些故事。

It’s January 1944 and the tide of WWII has changed. Though it will be a long hard grind, victory is on the horizon. To “better inform the American public,” about the situation in the Pacific, NBC creates a series of radio documentary dramas in Hollywood, with expert writers and professional voice actors. Enjoy this 80-year-old gem that traces the island’s history from the Dutch to the “Chinese” on Japanese Formosa “yearning to rejoin the fatherland... China!” This old radio drama is a wonderful snapshot in time – 1944 – before the events of the following year (Hitler’s death, two atomic bombs dropped on Japan, the formal end of WWII, and Taiwan’s “return” to the Republic of China) shaped the world we live in today.

More info at formosafiles.com

LISTEN TO THE STORY OF CIA VS. MADE IN TAIWAN NUKES ⁠⁠⁠IN CHINESE!

1945年，美國在日本廣島、長崎投下兩顆原子彈，雖然結束了戰爭，卻為全世界帶來核武的衝突與創傷。而在中華民國，蔣介石也迫不及待的想要加入核武俱樂部。尤其在國府於1949年撤退來臺、1964年共產中國核試成功後，蔣介石對核武的焦慮更加深刻。從1965年起，臺灣在水面下祕密進行核武的實驗及武器級原料的製備，卻在1988年因為張憲義叛逃到美國而被全面終止……

重要單字：monitor、hardline、blackmail、honey trap

主持人簡介：

Eryk Michael Smith－ICRT南臺灣特派員，長期從事記者採編工作、聲音編輯，也會客串DJ。現居高雄，在臺灣已經居住了接近30年，認為臺灣是自己的家。

Eric Hsu（徐葆權）－彰化北斗人，從大學南漂高雄以來，人生的大部分時間都在高雄渡過。關心臺灣文史與地方文化發展，尤其是自己的兩個家鄉：北斗與高雄。

John talks with Chris Bates about one of Taiwan’s greatest ever martial artists, Hong Yixiang 洪懿祥 (1925–1993).

Hong was Taiwan’s foremost master of the Chinese internal martial arts (which consist of baguazhang 八卦掌, xingyiquan 形意拳 and taijiquan 太極拳.)

The Hong family learnt these fighting forms from exiled Mainlanders who fled the communists in the late 1940s. These skills were put to good use in dealing with local gangsters in the turbulent post-WWII years in Taipei.

Chris, who trained with Hong and his sons, translated his biography “Blurred Boundaries,” written by son Hong Ze-han, into English. Like the book, this Formosa Files episode is not just a conversation about kung fu, but a rich cultural dive down little-known alleys.

(Chris previously spoke with John about his own martial arts odyssey in Taiwan: “Bonus Episode: Way of the Warrior - Martial Arts Master Chris Bates,” May 25, 2023. )

LISTEN TO THE STORY OF GHOST PLANES AND THE JAPANESE FIGHTER PILOT WHO BECAME A GOD IN CHINESE!

1944年10月12日，臺灣沖航空戰首日，一位年輕的日本海軍飛行員被擊墜，喪生在臺南海尾寮附近。但在戰後，這位飛行員卻被在地居民建祠崇奉，也被當地大廟的神明收為徒弟，受賜「飛虎將軍」的名號。究竟這位飛行員是誰，又為什麼在地居民要奉祀祂呢？就由Formosa Files的兩位主持人來為您說分曉。

重要單字：venerate, ritual, ejector seat

--

主持人簡介：

Eryk Michael Smith－ICRT南臺灣特派員，長期從事記者採編工作、聲音編輯，也會客串DJ。現居高雄，在臺灣已經居住了接近30年，認為臺灣是自己的家。

Eric Hsu（徐葆權）－彰化北斗人，從大學南漂高雄以來，人生的大部分時間都在高雄渡過。關心臺灣文史與地方文化發展，尤其是自己的兩個家鄉：北斗與高雄。

Three devastating crashes over an eight-year span, 1994 to 2002, with a combined 685 fatalities; a record that could easily bankrupt an airline. However, China Airlines (Taiwan's flag carrier) not only survived these horrific events but changed and flourished. They improved pilot training and communication, and built a more robust safety culture, and in 2023, China Airlines won Global Traveler magazine’s “Best Airline in North Asia” award.

Go to FORMOSAFILES.com for pictures, links, extras, and more. Song played at the end is an edited version of "Beautiful Island" by Kristin Lekven Hafell.

LISTEN TO THE STORY OF WHEN TAIWAN (ROC) BLOCKADED CHINA (PRC) ⁠⁠⁠IN CHINESE!

隨著海空軍實力加強，中國近年一直威脅要封鎖臺灣。然而在國民政府遷臺的至少十年之間，卻一直是中華民國在封鎖共產黨中國，而且還搞出相當嚴重的外交危機，差一點點就讓中華民國海軍在國際法上成為名實相符的海盜團體。到底當時發生什麼事呢？就讓我們來一起聊聊當時中華民國的領海關閉政策。重要單字：asylum, fascist, imperialism, guerrilla

主持人簡介：

Eryk Michael Smith－ICRT南臺灣特派員，長期從事記者採編工作、聲音編輯，也會客串DJ。現居高雄，在臺灣已經居住了接近30年，認為臺灣是自己的家。

Eric Hsu（徐葆權）－彰化北斗人，從大學南漂高雄以來，人生的大部分時間都在高雄渡過。關心臺灣文史與地方文化發展，尤其是自己的兩個家鄉：北斗與高雄。