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Taiwan's Environment Today*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2009

Richard Louis Edmonds
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The story of the post-1950 Taiwan economic miracle has been told many times. Quite a few authors have also dealt with aspects of the environmental degradation which has accompanied this growth. In general the literature places the blame on Taiwan society as a whole. It is critical of the government's slow evolution of regard for environmental protection, industry's lack of effort to assume its responsibilities and a lack of individual citizen concern prior to the 1980s. It is true that Taiwan's economy has grown rapidly since the 1960s. Unfortunately, this growth was linked to a low environmental consciousness and the lack of political will to regulate land use and pollution abatement. It was rooted in plastics, petrochemicals, leather goods, pesticides and other high polluting industries. These industries were attracted to Taiwan in part because of the environmental consciousness growing in the island's major markets, the United States and Japan. Sectors of the government favoured heavy industry as it would help with any efforts for a counter-attack against the Communists on the mainland. Social awareness of environmental issues and discontent with government and corporate management only began to grow in the 1980s and the government has yet to come to grips fully with the problem of environmental degradation. The purpose of this article is to describe the current state of Taiwan's environment, to trace the development of environmental movements on the island and to assess government's capability to salvage the situation.

Type
Taiwan Today
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 148 , December 1996 , pp. 1224 - 1259
Copyright
Copyright © The China Quarterly 1996

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References

1 Key and recent studies in English include: Taiwan 2000 Study Steering Committee (eds.), Taiwan 2000: Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Protection (Taipei: The Steering Committee Taiwan 2000 Study, 1989). Jack K. Williams, “Environmentalism in Taiwan,” in Simon, D. F. and Kau, M. Y. M. (eds.), Taiwan: Beyond the Economic Miracle (Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, 1992), pp. 187–210.Google ScholarLinda Gail Arrigo, “The environmental nightmare of the economic miracle: land abuse and land struggles in Taiwan,” Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars, Vol. 26, Nos. 1–2 (1994), pp. 21–44.Google Scholar Ouyang Chiao-hui, “Sustainable development and our living environment,” in Hu, Jason C. (ed.), Quiet Revolutions on Taiwan, Republic of China (Taipei:Kwang Hua, 1995), pp. 186–211.Google Scholar In Japanese see: Tenao Tadayoshi, “Taiwan: sanyo kogai no seiji keizaigaku” (“Taiwan: the political economics of enterprise pollution”), in Kojima Reeitsu and Fujisaki Shigeaki (eds.),g63:482 Kaihatsu to kankyo: HigashiAjia no keiken (Development and the Environment: The East Asia Experience) (Tokyo:Ajia keizai kenkyujo, 1993), pp.139–199.Google Scholar In Chinese there is much more. Some recent works include: You Ching(ed.), Kua shiji Taiwan: shanchuan, haian, senlin yu shuiziyuan (Taiwan into the Next Century: Mountain and Rivers, Coastal, Forest, and Water Resources) (Taipei:Xin Taiwan fazhan wenjiao jijinhui (New Taiwan Development Foundation), 1995);Google ScholarChengHsien-you, (ed.), Taiwan shengming de xinsheng (Taiwan's Call for Life) (Taipei:Qianwei chubanshe, 1995);Google Scholar and Lin, I-chen, Taiwan de yongxufazhan (Taiwan's Sustainable Development) (Taipei:Qianweichubanshe, 1993.Google Scholar

2 Bierma, Thomas J., “A personal look at Taiwan's air pollution problems,” Illinois Geographical Society Bulletin, Vol. 27, No. 2 (1985), pp. 18–20 points out an interesting example of how Taiwan was willing to trade off air quality for profit. After the United States government curtailed the burning of old electrical cables because of the toxic pollutants released when the insulation burned, American companies interested in recovering the metals from the cables found people in Taiwan willing to undertake the work despite the air pollution.Google Scholar

3 As of May 1991, for example, the central government was studying ways to implement electricity cuts on a rotating basis.

4 For typical examples of the importance of housing related environmental issues for Hong Kong see Cecilia Chan and Peter Hills, Limited Gains: Glassroots Mobilization and the Environment in Hong Kong (Hong Kong:Centre of Urban Planning and Environmental Management, University of Hong Kong, 1993), and the desire to preserve green spaces, flora and fauna in Macau see Isabel Meneses, “A procura do verde perdido,” Macau, M érie, No. 36 (April 1995), pp. 89–95.Google Scholar

5 Although not directly stated the case for this reasoning is made in Arrigo, “The environmental nightmare of the economic miracle.”

6 Criticism of the lack of forestry and agricultural policy is still being made by academics in Taiwan. See Ch'en Hsin-hsiung. “Topo kunjing kaichuang linye di 2 ge huangjin shidai zai huanbao yishi gaozhang,… ” (“Break through the difficulties and start forestry's second golden era as environmental consciousness is raised, under drought and flood pressure, the direction in which forestry should strive in the future”), in You Ch'ing, Kua shiji Taiwan, pp. 6–7.

7 “Bufen nongdi jiangyu biangeng” (“Some agricultural land is going to change”), Zhongyang ribao (Central Daily News International Edition), No. 22755, 4 February 1991, p. 7.

8 “Taiwan 5 da shidi mianlin wuran pohuai weiji” (“Taiwan's five largest wetlands are facing a pollution destruction crisis”), Zhongyang ribao, No. 24420, 28 August 1995, p. 7

9 Chiang Chung-ming “Quanqiu queshui guojia Taiwan palming shiba” (“Of the world's polities lacking water, Taiwan is ranked 18th”), Zhongyang ribao. No. 24317,17 May 1995, p. 7.

10 You Fan-chie, “Jishuiqu shuitubaochi wenti yu gaijin zhi dao” (“The way to improve soil conservation problems in catchment areas”), in You Ch'ing, Kua shiji Taiwan, p. 56 points out that in the early 1990s there were nearly 6,000 hectares of golf courses and 927 mines operating in Taiwan.

11 You Fan-chie, “Jishuiqu shuitubaochi wenti,” pp. 51–52 points how serious landslides can be in Taiwan once the surface is disturbed above the fragmented shale on hills. In 1989, there were 2,535 landslides in Taiwan covering 8,100 hectares. There also have been serious siltation problems in the Paiho, Akungtien and Wushant'ou Reservoirs of southern Taiwan because that area is prone to mud flows under heavy precipitation.

12 Rapid road construction during the last three decades means that only some of the highest mountain areas in the east central parts of Taiwan now remain undisturbed by human activity.

13 “Jianju wei shuitubaochi xunfangdui cuisheng” (“Construction Bureau creates a patrol for soil conservation”), Zhongyang ribao, No. 22742, 22 January 1991, p. 7.

14 Huang Pi-hsia “Mingde Shuiku shiyong shouming liang hongdeng” (“Mingte Reservoir life gives out a red light warning”), Zhongyang ribao, No. 22761,10 February 1991, p. 7. As another example, Hu Jo-mei, “Jishuiqu lancai riyi xiaozhang” (“Reckless digging in the catchment district grows day by day”), Lianhe bao (United Daily News Taoyuan Edition), 26 November 1995, p. 13 points out that the Shihmen Reservoir's bottom level rose 39.5 metres between 1964 and 1984 due to siltation. To take advantage of a bad situation the government has allowed construction companies to dig out gravels from the Shihmen catchment presumably to slow erosion. However, some suggest that this has caused pollution in the catchment.

15 Chiang Chung-ming, ”Quanqiu queshui guojia Taiwan panning shiba,“ p. 7 estimates that Taiwan's annual reservoir capacity loss is roughly between 12 million and 14.6 million cubic metres. Winnie Chang, ”Dwindling reserves, “ Free China Review, Vol. 44, No.7 (July1994), p. 37 puts the loss of reservoir capacity due to siltation at 14.7 cubic metres per year and states that Taiwan's reservoirs have lost close to one-quarter of reservoir capacity since construction.Google Scholar

16 Chiang Chung-ming, “Quanqiu queshui guojia Taiwan paiming shiba,” p. 7. JimH wang, “Water: resource in crisis,” Free China Review Vol.44, No. 7 (July 1994), p. 7.Google Scholar

17 According to Yang Cheng-ch'uan, “Pinglun 1” (“Commentary 1”), in You Ch'ing, Kua shiji Taiwan, p. 23, about 75% of Taiwan's precipitation becomes surface run-off, 21% evaporates, and 4% enters the earth to become ground water.

18 “Sankou Helanjing maimo shaqiuxia” (“Sank'ou Dutch well is buried under a sand dune”), Zhongyang ribao. No. 22861, 26 May 1991, p. 7 points to a pertinent example from Chiali in T'ainan county. The “Sank'ou Dutch Well” was drilled and lined by the Dutch in 1624 and was still used by the local people up to the late 1940s. By the mid-1950s it was covered in sand. In the mid-1980s a villager dug out another nearby well. However, by 1991 it was again covered in sand.

19 Ch'en Hsien-hsiung, “Tupo kunjing,” Zhongyang ribao, 1995, pp. 9–14.

20 “Quansheng pujiang zhenyu hanxiang shaohou shujie” (“Whole province gets rain, drought will be relieved shortly”), Zhongyang ribao, No. 22837, 2 May 1991, p. 7.

21 Lei Hsien-wei, Huang Heng-tun and Chi Liang-yu, “Jiananqu mingrian yiqi daozuo tingguan 18,000 yu gongqing” (“Next year in the Chianan area over 18,000 hectares of early paddy will not be irrigated”), Lianhe bao. No. 16092, 18 November 1995, p. 1, states that every hectare that is not planted will receive compensation of NT$2,500. Based on past experience the government expects about 10,000 hectares of this area to be planted in dry field crops. Another 4,000 plus hectares are expected “to beg for their own water.” Therefore, only about 4,500 hectares will actually sit idle. Considering rice stores this drop in yield should not affect prices.

22 Chiang Chung-ming, “Quanqiu queshui guojia,” p. 7. It was reported that these projects would produce 3,200 million cubic metres of annual water supply at a cost of 300,000 million yuan.

23 About four-fifths of this water goes on crop production and 15% for aquaculture with the remainder for livestock and forestry.

24 Tsai Ming-hua interview by JimH wang, “How much water for the fields?” Free China Review, Vol. 44, No. 7 (July 1994), p. 11. Overall water policy rests with the Water Resources Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.Google Scholar

25 Hwang, “Water: resource in crisis,” p. 9.

26 “Fangzhi wuran xingjian shuiku” (“Prevent pollution construct reservoirs”), Zhongyang ribao, No. 22828, 23 April 1991, p. 7.

27 According to Yang Cheng-ch'uan, “Pinglun 1,” pp. 25–26, advocates of supply increase rather than solely relying on strict water conservation, point out that if only 2% more of water run-off is captured for use, then 1,350 million cubic metres of water can be added to the overall supply. Others point out that with 22.5% of run-off now being used, the absolute limit in economic terms that Taiwan can use is about 25% which means that adding 2%, while possible, will be costly. Chang Shih-chiao, “Pinglun 1” (“Commentary 1”), in You Ch'ing, Kua shiji Taiwan, p. 66 makes this point and provides an interesting comparison. The Techi Reservoir dam is 180 metres high, the same as the Sanxia (Three Gorges) Dam being built in Hubei province. However, the reservoir capacity of the Sanxia Dam will be 70 times that of the Techi Reservoir. This shows the difficulties of finding suitable sites for expanding reservoir capacity in Taiwan.

28 Arrigo, “The environmental nightmare of the economic miracle,” p. 38, n. 43 quoting from Zili wanbao, No. 204 (30 April 1993), p. 10. Hwang, “Water resource in crisis,” p. 6. Hsiao Ming-kuo, “Ezhi luchen zhengfu jue dafu jianshao yuwen” (“In order to halve ground subsidence the government decides to greatly reduce fish fields”), Zhongyang ribao, No. 24481,28 November 1995, p. 7 states that over 1057 sq km have been affected. The problem becomes most obvious in typhoon season when sea water floods into the lowlands of the south-west.

29 Hwang, “Water resource in crisis,” p. 12.

30 Yang Hui-lan, “Luchen shehui chengben meinian baiyi” (“Ground subsidence social cost NT$ 10,000,000,000 annually”), Zhongyang ribao, No. 24481,28 November 1995, p. 7. Hsiao Ming-kuo, “Ezhi luchen,” p. 7. Zoning, help with alternative employment, ground water management and education are to be included in an 18 work point plan. There are plans for the Council of Agriculture to step up the establishment of fish rearing districts from today's 30 to 50 by 2000 in order to rationalize water use.

31 The Steering Committee Taiwan 2000 Study, p. 18.

32 Miu Lin et al., “Huanshu zhili wancheng daqi jianwang shezhan” (“EPA puts its efforts into completing atmospheric observation network”), Zhongyang ribao. No. 22730,10 January 1991, p. 7. Yvonne Yuan, “Paying for the past,” Free China Review, Vol. 44, No. 7 (July 1994), p. 18 makes an interesting generalization in this central government sponsored journal about water pollution in Taiwan: “Although the magnitude of the water pollution problem is not as serious as it is in Albania or mainland China, it is great enough to cause rising concerns about public health.”

33 Juju Wang, Huanjingshehuixue de Chufa (The Beginnings of Environmental Sociology) (Taipei:Guiguan, 1994), p. 16.Google Scholar

34 Hu Jo-mei, “Huanju yan shuizhi yuban buhege” (“EPA tests water quality, over half doesn't meet standards”), Lianhe bao, 26 November 1995, p. 13, points out that over half the 2,400-odd water samples collected in Taoyuan county in the first ten months of 1995 did not meet water quality standards. Over one-quarter those collected in schools were substandard. Most alarming was that out of 1,662 ground water samples, 1,261 did not meet standards.

35 Roger Mark Selya, “Water and air pollution in Taiwan,” Vol. 9, No. 2 (January 1975), pp. 183–84. Water pollution problems were publicized openly with the Klassen-World Health Organization report of 1966.

36 Selya, “Water and air pollution in Taiwan,” pp. 180–81.

37 Eugenia Yun, “Safety in a bottle?” Free China Review, Vol. 44, No. 7 (July 1994), p. 28. As is the case in Britain and elsewhere bottled water is not necessarily safer as there are often no standards and there are many unlicensed vendors of bottled water.Google Scholar

38 A Cleaner Home and a Better Image Abroad: Taiwan's Environmental Efforts (Taipei: Office of Science and Technology Advisors, Environmental Protection Administration, 1995), p. 5.

39 One reason that many factories go unchecked is that there is a large number which are not registered with the government.

40 Yuan, “Paying for the past,” p. 18 says that the Environmental Protection Agency feels that domestic waste water will become the major pollution source for rivers by 1997 if quick action is not taken.

41 The best connection rate is in Taipei with about one-quarter of homes and businesses connected to sewerage treatment. Kaohsiung treats about half its total wastewater.

42 According to Richard Vuysteke, R., “Wastewater primer,” Free China Review, Vol. 44, No.7 (July 1994), p. 27, as pigs in Taiwan generally produce four to six times the amount of excrement of a human, Taiwan's pig population creates as much sewage as 55 million humans - over twice the human population of Taiwan.Google Scholar

43 Yuan, “Paying for the past,” p. 21.

44 TheRegulationsfortheControlofEnvironmentalPesticideswerepromulgatedin 1984 although some had been regulated under provisions of earlier laws.

45 Chang, “Dwindling reserves,” p. 42 points out that the sole low pollution watershed of the Feits'ui Reservoir requires annual expenditures of US$150,000 on reforestation and US$3 million on soil conservation. However, even this model reservoir has caused environmental damage. Construction led to the destruction of the only known habitat of Rhododendron kanehirai, a species of azalea which experts are now trying to reintroduce to similar habits having found several garden-grown plants.

46 Yun, “Safety in a bottle?” p. 30 points out that Kaohsiung has renewed much of its water supply piping in part to reduce the intrusion of polluted ground water into the system.

47 Eugene Chien, Working Towards Environmental Quality in the 21st Century (Taipei:Environmental Protection Administration, 1991), p. 7.Google Scholar

48 Selya, “Water and air pollution in Taiwan,” pp. 189–190.

49 83 Huanjing baohu nianjian {Environmental Protection Yearbook 1994) (Taipei: Xingzheng yuan, Huangjing baohushu, 1995), pp. 101–102, 113–14. The highest average levels in 1994 were in Taipei municipality (229.40 /ig/m3) and Kaohsiung (181.19 /ig/m3) with the lowest in Ham county (63.96% ig/mr). In terms of the 142 individual monitoring stations all over the island 52.8% had 24 hour particulate levels over 250 /Jg/m3. Only 35.9% of the monitoring stations were meeting Taiwan's standard of 130 /Jg/m3. These values represent modest improvements over 1993 with 1992 having been the worst year in the 1990s. The World Health Organization recommends 90 /ig/m as a safe high level.

50 Ibid.. Of the 79 stations monitoring CO in 1994 only three had hourly values above Taiwan's standard of 35 ppm. These were all in areas of Taipei Municipality near main transport arteries. Only three out of 78 monitoring stations did not reach Taiwan's SO2 annual standards. This represented a considerable improvement over 1993. Only one out of 77 NO2 monitoring stations failed to meet annual standards in 1994. This station (Tat'ung, Taipei municipality) recorded an average annual value of 0.056 ppm with the Taiwan standard being 0.05 ppm. However, overall the NO2 problem seems to be most serious in the cities of Chia-i and T'aichung. Sales of unleaded petrol more than tripled between 1990 and 1994.

51 Bierma, “Taiwan's air pollution problems,” pp. 21–22. This led to high sulphate values around cities such as Kaohsiung where all three local power plants burn oil.

52 In 1994 the administrative units with the most serious SO2 pollution were Miaoli county followed by Kaohsiung county, Kaohsiung municipality, Taipei municipality and T'aoyuan county.

53 Bierma, “Taiwan's air pollution problems,” p. 23.

54 A Cleaner Home and a Better Image Abroad, p. 4.

55 Taibei Shi, Zhongyang ribao, 1991, p. 7.

56 Yueh Ching, “Industrialized Taiwan has region's highest increase of asthma patients,” Free China Journal, Vol. 12, No. 47 (8 December 1995) p. 4, notes that by 1994 asthma cases in Taiwan soared to eight times what they had been in 1974 with the largest concentration amongst schoolchildren being in Taipei municipality. However, this increase could also be due to changes in diet and other factors as well as increases in air pollution.Google Scholar

57 “Xingda dianchang meihui wuran Taidian yaoqiu jianding queding cai peichang” (“Hsingta electric plant coal dust pollution, Taiwan Electric proof and confirmation before paying compensation”), Zhongyang ribao. No. 22877, 11 June 1991, p. 7.

58 “Liiqi waixiean jiuyi yiyu wubairen” (“Cloride gas leak already led to 500 people needing medical attention”), Zhongyang ribao, No. 22880,14 June 1991, p. 7. The company also agreed to pay medical expenses and compensation to those injured.

59 Acidification is caused by sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides being converted into sulphuric and nitric acids when released into the atmosphere.

60. Acidification is caused by sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides being converted into sulphuric and nitric acids when released into the atmosphere.

61. Huang I-ching, “Taiwan suanyu sancheng shi dalu wuranwu” (“Thirty per cent of Taiwan's acid rain is mainland pollution”), Zhongyang ribao,No. 24366, 5 July 1995, p. 7. Percentage of precipitation levels of pH below 5 for other parts of Taiwan include: Kueishan 81%, Hsiaokang 78%, Chungli 74% and T'aichung Harbour 52%.

62. The Steering Committee Taiwan 2000 Study 1989, p. 225. 83 Huanjing baohu nianjian,p. 157.

63. Taipei Municipal Public Works Department, “Taibei Shi gaojia daolu yanxian zaoyin diaocha baogao” (“Taipei municipality elevated roadside noise investigation report”), cited in Juju Wang, Huanjingshehuixue de chufa,p. 15. See also Hsiao Hsin-huang Michael, “Cong huanjingshehuixue kan yiban minzhong he lifaweiyuan dui huanjing wend de renzhi,” (“Commoners and legislative Yuan members understanding of environmental problems from an environmental sociological viewpoint”) Zhongguo luntan.Vol. 15, No. 8 (1984), pp. 44–49.

64. Huang Ch'ien-ch'iian, “Shequ jumin dui minsu zaoyin de fanying ji yingbian celue” (“Urban residents' reaction to social noise and suggested policy changes”), a report to the former Environmental Protection Bureau of the Executive Yuan in 1988 cited in Juju Wang, Huanjingshehuixue de Chufa,p. 15.

65. 83 Huanjing baohu nianjian,p. 151. The vast majority of incidents were cases where it was discovered that noise control regulations were not being followed. The remaining 12.5% of incidents dealt with meeting standards within the time allotted.

66. Reports in the English language literature on Taiwan repeat this sad observation. See Arrigo, “The environmental nightmare of the economic miracle,” p. 21; and Arthur Zich, 'Taiwan: the other China,” National Geographic,November 1993, pp. 3–32.

67. Hsieh Chih-yueh, “Yu Yuxian: mianlin nongye xin keti de taozhan,” (“Yfl Yii-hsien: the approach to new problems facing agriculture”), Zhongyang ribao.No. 22951,24 August 1991, p. 7.

68. The Steering Committee Taiwan 2000 Study 1989, p. 176.

69. Bierma, “Taiwan's air pollution problems,” pp. 25–26.

70. Laurie Underwood, “Trash clash: environmentalists and officials disagree on how to boost recycling,” Free China Review,Vol. 43, No. 8 (August 1993), p. 45.

71. A Cleaner Home and a Better Image Abroad,p. 5.

72. “Shengfu bokuan yiyi zhengdun Ali Shan zangluan” (“Provincial government sets aside NT$100,000,000 to clean up Mount Ali”), Zhongyang ribao,No. 22855,20 May 1991, p. 7. Wu Ming-lun, “Guanyin Shan zao lanken tongshan zhuozhuo,” (“Kuan-in Mountain is exploited and becomes a bald mountain”), Zhongguo shibao (China Times),No. 16405, 17 November 1995, p. 16 gives another example of Kuan-in Mountain near Wuku where dumping of soil on this deforested mountain has led to landslides. Wu points out how the laws related to dumping of wastes on this mountain have been poorly enforced.

73. Underwood, “Trash clash,” p. 44. A Cleaner Home and a Better Image Abroad,p. 5.

74. Underwood, “Trash clash,” p. 45.

75. Taiwan imports recycled paper, tin, aluminium, zinc and copper.

76. Juju Wang, Huanjingshehuixue de chufa,pp. 153–186.

77. According to Chen I-i, Zhonghua Minguo huanbaofagui (Environmental Laws of the Republic of China)(Taipei: Jinyu chuabanshe, 1989), p. 262, when Taiwan reverted to Chinese control in 1945 the Forestry Law of the Republic of China was put into effect immediately. This law was revised in 1972 and again in 1985. For the role of forestry in mainland China nature conservation see Richard Louis Edmonds, Patterns of China's Lost Harmony(London: Routledge, 1994), pp. 193–201.

78. The Steering Committee Taiwan 2000 Study 1989, pp. 116, 120.

79. According to Yvonne Yuan, “A sense of urgency,” Free China Review,Vol. 44, No. 8 (August 1994), p. 12, eleven species of plants and 23 species of fauna were listed as protected. Most of these conservation areas were for birds.

80. Council of Agriculture, First General Report of the Council of Agriculture(Taipei: Council of Agriculture, 1986), pp. 160–67.

81. Island of Diversity: Nature Conservation in Taiwan, R.O.C.(Taipei: Council of Agriculture and Department of National Parks, 1994), p. 26.

82. Jim Hwang, “Have your park and save it too,” Free China Review,Vol. 43, No. 8 (August 1993), p. 59 notes that mining continued in Yangmingshan, Taroko and Yushan until recently. These activities have at least now been required to seek government approval.

83. According to Jim Hwang, “Have your park and save it too,” p. 57, the chief of the National Park Department, Hsiao Ch'ing-fen, says few trained people are willing to take the difficult Civil Service Exam required of national park officials.

84. Jim Hwang, “Research and rescue,” Free China Review,Vol. 44, No. 8 (August 1994), pp. 38–41, describes the functions of the Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute founded in 1992 which tries to heal injured rare species and to introduce domesticated endemic species back into the wild.

85. “Yizhi malaixiong huande liuyue tiechuang” (“Malay bear set free from iron cage after six months”), Zhongyang ribao,No. 22764, 13 February 1991, p. 7.

86. Lin Han-ch'ing, “Dalu yuchuan zousi youru haishang dongwuyuan” (“Mainland smuggling fishing boat is like a floating zoo”), Zhongyang ribao,No. 22869, 3 June 1991, p. 7.

87. Jim Hwang, “Back to nature,” Free China Review,Vol. 44, No. 4 (April 1994), pp. 64–65. Formosan sika deer have the scientific name Cervus nippon taiouanus,and are known in Chinese as meihualu.

88. Paul Ming-hsien Sun interview by Yvonne Yuan, “On attitudes, laws, and civic groups,” Free China Review,Vol. 44, No. 8 (August 1994), p. 21, points out the example from the original Wildlife Conservation Law that those who did not register that they were raising wild animals were not punished.

89. According to Yuan, “A sense of urgency,” p. 12 these reforms will toughen gaol sentences and fines for dealing in listed species or their products. A controversial item to arise out of these discussions is whether to allow commercial breeding of animals listed in the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Animals now being raised on Taiwan include cobras, masked palm civets, tigers and crocodiles. In general the government wants to let these businesses continue whereas conservation groups want an all-out ban. On page 16 Yuan cites a study undertaken by students at National Chunghsing University which suggests that the number of rare birds on sale dropped significantly between 1985 and 1992.

90. Leigh Ann Hurt, “Rhino horn-trading in death?” WWF News,Vol. 71 (May-June 1991), pp. 4–5. A more radical example of this kind of accusation can be seen in the pamphlet, Taiwan Kills Rhinos with Your Money(London: Environmental Investigation Agency et al.,1992).

91. Yuan, “A sense of urgency,” p. 15. Yvonne Yuan, “The rhino redressed,” Free China Review,Vol. 44, No. 8 (August 1994), p. 35 points out that water buffalo horns have long been used as a suitable substitute for rhino horns in Chinese medicine on Taiwan.

92. Yuan, “A sense of urgency,” p. 16.

93. Paul Ming-hsien Sun interview by Yvonne Yuan, “On attitudes, laws, and civic groups,” Free China Review,Vol. 44, No. 8 (August 1994), pp. 22–23. Claims include use of out-of-date information, lack of balanced reporting by not covering what efforts are being taken to control the situation, and a lack of understanding of Chinese culture which prejudices their surveying techniques in Taiwan.

94. Arrigo, “The environmental nightmare of the economic miracle,” p. 23. See also Jack K. Williams, “Environmentalism in Taiwan,” in Simon and Kau, Taiwan: Beyond the Economic Miracle,pp. 187–210.

95. Selya, “Water and air pollution in Taiwan,” p. 197.

96. Han Chien, “The institutional problems of land use and environmental planning in Taiwan,” Urban Law and Policy,Vol. 8, No. 5 (1987), pp. 458–59.

97. Ibid.p. 461.

98. Williams, “Environmentalism in Taiwan,” pp. 196, 205.

99. The Environmental Impact Assessment Law was finally promulgated on 30 December 1994. According to A Cleaner Home and a Better Image Abroad,p. 3, Taiwan's law is one of “the most advanced EIA laws in the world” because of three characteristics: environmental authorities have the veto power on projects; violations of EIA commitments are punishable; and government policies that are thought to affect the environment are subject to EIA procedures. No comment is made on the inherent difficulties of one branch of government trying to protect the public from government policy. Of the 407 environmental impact assessments undertaken between the implementation of the temporary environmental impact assessment programme in 1985 and the new law in 1994, 132 did not pass.

100. “Huanbaofangwu jiangcheng 90 nian mingxing qiye” (“Environmental protection anti-pollution equipment will be the star enterprise of 1990”), Zhongyang ribao,No. 22665, 6 November 1990, p. 7. According to 83 Huanjing baohu nianjian,p. 50, there were 31,424 environmental protection workers as of June 1994 although 28,120 of these were involved in rubbish removal and waste water plant work.

101. Hwang, “Water resource in crisis,” p. 16.

102. According to the Republic of China Yearbook 1995, p. 232, by 1993 government environmental agencies alone registered 84,273 complaints about environmental nuisances. There were four major causes of complaint: over 38% of the total were related to waste disposal issues, just under 23% were about noise, just over 22% were air pollution related, and just under 10% were about foul odours.

103. The first unofficial environmental organization was the Animal Protection Association of the Republic of China based in Taipei.

104. Hsiao Hsin-huang Michael, “Guanqie Taiwan xianzai de weilai de shehui wenti” (“Concerning Taiwan's current and future social problems”), Zhonghe zazhi,No. 45 (1986), pp. 150–162.

105. For more on changed social perceptions towards environmental problems see Juju Wang, Huanjingshehuixue de Chufa,pp. 12–14 and The Steering Committee Taiwan 2000 Study, pp. 352–383.

106. Wang Fei-yun, “Grassroots initiative,” Free China ReviewVol. 44, No. 8 (August 1994), p. 32.

107. More detailed results can be found in Juju Wang, Huanjingshehuixue de Chufa,pp. 65–69.

108. Arrigo, “The environmental nightmare of the economic miracle,” p. 24 notes a report Taiwan shengjie yu shenghuo pingzhi (Quality of Life in the Bioregion ofTaiwan),Research Report 2, Fujen University, Theological Institute (June 1992) which she summarizes as stating that in a survey of 1,400 people about life satisfaction in Taiwan “80% expressed dissatisfaction with the official policy of economy first, ecology second; 75% agreed that Taiwan's buildings are deficient in aesthetics; and 92% agreed that air quality and environment were getting worse day by day - a much more vehement response than in the previous 1980 survey.”

109. James Reardon-Anderson, Pollution, Politics, and Foreign Investment in Taiwan: The Lukang Rebellion(Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, 1992). While experts contended the titanium dioxide plant was harmless, Lukang oystermen and fishermen reared that pollution from the plant would destroy their livelihood.

110. As of mid-1995 legal action was beginning against the Hsingta Plant Assistant General Director, Shen Wen-Ian, who was accused of illegal activities in aiding the German company, Siemens, to obtain a contract. Others were also indicted. Wang Li-yii, et al.,“Huishou fei luntai yida baqian gongdun” (“Recovered used tyres already total eight thousand tonnes”), Zhongyang ribao.No. 22742,22 January 1991, p. 7, described attempts to undertake some measures to clean up the environment such as by retrieving old tyres and cutting them up and burning them to produce energy, which were blocked by citizens' groups which had little confidence that the government could be trusted when it said that such burning will cause little air pollution. As a result the tyres piled up in eleven special dumps at the rate of 2,000 metric tonnes a month.

111. Yang Hui-lan and Chu Ch'un-mei, “Hedian dui wo nengyuan gongying you qi biyaoxing” (“Nuclear power has its necessity for our energy supply”), Zhongyang ribao,No. 24354, 23 June 1995, p. 7.

112. “Yanliao jian hesi jue bu gaibian” (“Construction of nuclear reactor four at Yenliao definitely will not be changed”), Zhongyang ribao,No. 22766, 20 February 1991, p. 7.

113. Huang Tzu-ch'iang, “Fanhe tuanti danxi Liyuan changmian huibao” (“Anti-nuclear group clean the Legislative Yuan with eggs, the scene is fiery”), Zhongyang ribao,No. 24354, 23 June 1995, p. 7 describes one such confrontation on 21 June 1995 when the Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan Environmental Protection Union, and anti-nuclear groups from Yanliao, Kungliao and Lanyii battled with police and threw eggs at the Legislative Assembly in an attempt to show solidarity with attempts by some legislators to block approval of the Kungliao fourth nuclear power plant's budget. “You Qing yangyan jufa jianzhao” (“You Ch'ing discloses his refusal to issue a construction permit”), Zhongyang ribao.No. 24354, 23 June 1995, p. 7 notes that at the same 21 June Legislative Yuan session, Taipei county Governor, You Ch'ing, made a surprise visit at 11 a.m. but was denied the right to speak by the Nationalist Party dominated assembly. Outside he made a statement that the county government would not issue a permit to the number 2 nuclear power plant to use a nuclear waste warehouse.

114. “Yuanweihui wancheng chubu guihua” (“Nuclear Commission completes preliminary plan”), Zhongyang ribao,No. 22766, 20 February 1991, p. 7.

115. “Kangyi hefeiliao zhucun zai Lanyu” (“Resist nuclear waste storage on Lanyii”), Zhongyang ribao,No. 22768, 22 February 1991, p. 7.

116. Hsiao Mingguo and Huang Tzu-ch'iang, “Chaoye liwei duijue hesi yusuan chushen guoguan” (“Nationalists and the opposition Legislative Yuan members deadlocked: fourth plant budget gets past its first initial enquiry”), Zhongyang ribao,No. 24354, 23 June 1995, p. 7. The motion failed to pass. For opposition views of the problem see Lin Chun-i and Lin Pi-yao, “Qiangjiu Lanyu, shengyuan Yameiren” (“Save Lanyii, support the Ami people”), Taiwan huanjing {Taiwan Environment),No. 82 (1 July 1995), p. 18; and Huang I-feng, “Lanyu de bianchui diwei ji qi beiju mingyun” (“Lanyu's peripheral position and its tragic fate”), Taiwan huanjing.No. 83 (15 August 1995), p. 7.

117. “Dalu jiao Taiwan luohou shinian” (“Compared to Taiwan the mainland is about ten years behind”), Zhongyang ribao.No. 23186, 5 April 1992, p. 7.

118. Hwang, “Water: resource in crisis,” p. 15 points out how policy developed by the former Mountain Agricultural Resources Development Bureau to encourage farmers to cultivate slope lands in the 1960s through technical assistance and loans had to be reversed in order to stop soil erosion. Even now the subsidy to plant trees on slopes adds up to lower value than growing fruit, tea or vegetables on such lands.

119. One problem peculiar to the Republic of China is that as few countries or international organizations recognize the government's existence, environmental problems of an international nature, such as the oil spill into the sea from the tanker, Borag,roughly 5 kilometres off Keelung in January 1977 which affected the northern Taiwan coast (cited in Joseph W. Dellapenna and Ar-young Wang, “Protecting the Republic of China from oil pollution in the sea: accounting for damages from oil spills,” Texas International Law Journal,Vol. 19 (1984), pp. 115–138), could prove difficult to prosecute under foreign or international law. Whereas the Republic of China has been accommodated and been accommodating over various international issues, pollution dumping at sea or cross boundary air pollution matters could prove difficult.

120. According to 1993 State of the Environment Taiwan, R.O.C.(Taipei: Environmental Protection Administration, 1993), p. 34, at the end of 1991, Taiwan bad 184 air monitoring stations. According to 83 Huanjing baohu nianjian,pp. 154–56, as of 1993 there were 59 noise monitoring stations surrounding Taiwan's six major airports and 19 stations monitoring traffic noise on heavily used roads.