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China's People's Liberation Army/Navy has been practicing for a possible blockade of Taiwan with ships, planes, and drones. This week, Formosa Files looks at the history of blockades connected to Taiwan. Plus, hear about the nastiest "ocean blockade" in history -- when the new Qing authorities ordered the evacuation of the Chinese coast for over 20 years!
Cover image: The "practice blockade" positions of the PRC military during 2022 military exercises following a visit to Taiwan by a sitting speaker of the United States House of Representatives. The growing consensus is that China's People's Liberation Army/Navy/Air Force is indeed capable of blockading Taiwan.
Below: An illustration of the French evacuation of Keelung, on June 22, 1885. The French attempted a blockade of Taiwan during the Sino-French War (it was reasonably effective). But, the French were defeated by Qing Chinese forces after a botched landing attempt at Keelung and Tamsui (Danshui). Images via Wikimedia Commons.
Below: An illustration of the French attempt to take a heavily defended hill near Keelung (????) on March 7, 1885.
Below: Victorious Qing commander and governor of Taiwan, Liu Mingchuan (1836–96).
To read more about the Great Clearance (遷界令); also translated as the Great Evacuation or Great Frontier Shift, click HERE.
Check our very first episode, the story of a very white man who showed up in London in 1703... and claimed to be from Formosa. Or try a foodie episode from Season 3. Or, for those who want some harder-core history, hear the tale of the Lockheed U-2 pilot Wang Hsi-chueh 王錫爵, who became was famous for defecting to the PRC by hijacking China Airlines Flight 334 on May 3, 1986.
