Excerpts from “Draft Outline for the Takeover of Taiwan”, produced by Taiwan Investigation Committee of the Central Planning Commission of the Government of the Republic of China,* October, 1944; translated by Evan Dawley (Original text can be found in State and Economy in Republican China: A Handbook for Scholars, Volume 2, William C. Kirby, Lin Man-houng, James Chin Shih, and David A. Pietz, eds., Cambridge: Harvard University Asia Center, 2000, pp. 107-121) Part 1: General Principles 1. After Taiwan has been taken over, all of the administrative measures will aim to implement the legacies of the Father of the Nation [Sun Yat-sen], follow the directives of the Director-General [Jiang Jieshi], strive for the benefit of the Taiwan people, and eradicate the influence of the enemy [Japan] 2. The following political measures will be instituted after the takeover: On the negative front, we must wipe away the enemy’s influence, eliminate all rebels, expel the old pollutants (including the practices of misgovernment such as suppression, decay, corruption, excessive taxation, and cruel torture, as well as pernicious customs such as opium smoking), and establish order. On the positive side, we must consolidate the civil administrative institutions, enhance labor efficiency, prepare for the implementation of constitutional government, and establish the foundation for civil liberties. 3. Following the takeover, the following economic measures will be taken: The basic principles are to end the exploitation of the Taiwan people by the enemy, maintain the previous productive capabilities, and prevent a recession (while employing all but the sick and the criminals), but the benefits that we derive from this should be used to elevate the lives of the Taiwan people. 4. The following cultural measures will be established after the takeover: We should strengthen the national consciousness, wipe away the enslaved mindset, increase the opportunities for education, and raise the cultural level. 5. All of the laws and regulations of the Republic of China will be extended to Taiwan, and provisional measures can be enforced if necessary. Regarding the laws and regulations of the period of Japanese occupation, they can remain on a provisional basis, except for those that are oppressive toward the Taiwan people or are in conflict with the Three Principles of the People or the laws of the Republic. All [of the provisional laws] should be revised gradually and as necessary. 6. Regarding weights and measurements after the takeover: Although the Taiwan people currently use the enemy’s system of weights and measures, these should all be converted over to the system and standards used by the Republic of China. This should be carried out after publicizing it for a period. After a set period, the enemy’s system of weights and measures will be banned. 7. Following the takeover, the use of Japanese in government documents, educational materials, and newspapers will be forbidden. 8. On the local political system: Following the takeover, Taiwan will become a province and a formal provincial government will be established. The previous system of county, district, sub-district, prefecture, and city will be maintained, but the former town and village classifications will be given new names.* The baojia [local security] system should be continued on a provisional basis. 9. Whenever we take over a territory, we should initially manage things in the following procedure: a. Takeover the local governmental organs (including the agencies of civil administration, military, judiciary, education, treasury, finance, transportation, industry and commerce, agriculture and forestry, fisheries, mining, sanitation, water supply, police, and welfare) and, according to the laws and regulations of the Republic, will be divided into those that should be abolished, reformed, or maintained; however, in cases of institutions that are essential or for which the laws have no specific statutes, they can be provisionally maintained. b. Establish the county (or city) government, and change the name of the township administration. c. Establish a branch of the national bank or set up a local bank. d. Release political prisoners and clear-up each case. e. Abolish the bad controls taken by the enemy toward the Taiwan people. f. Commend Taiwan’s revolutionary martyrs for their sacrifices. g. Forbid the use of opiates. h. In the short-term training of administrative personnel and educators, particularly emphasize their thought and life. Continue to employ the people currently working for the various institutions, except for enemy citizens and those who engaged in illegal behavior. Those who are kept on (technical experts should be kept on as long as possible, and part-time employees should remain in office provisionally) should continue to receive their previous salaries; according to regulations, they should go through examinations, receive commendations, and get training. Following the takeover, we must supplement those selected [to remain in their posts], and should establish a reserve, and moreover should create more opportunities for the Taiwan people to work. In taking over each agency, we should store, arrange, and utilize their original records, accounts, documents, offices, implements, and property. Part 11: Society 61. Regarding the existing people’s organizations, following the takeover their activities will be halted, and then following a survey and registration process, and they will be adjusted according to the regulations and current conditions, so that we can liberate and utilize these organizations. 62. We will survey the injuries and losses in the lives of the people and their assets, and we will increase welfare. We will also honor those revolutionary martyrs who were injured or sacrificed their lives in the anti-Japanese resistance, and moreover will assist them or their bereaved families. 63. We will give to the farmers what they need in terms of agricultural implements, livestock, seed, fertilizer, and financial assistance, we will construct housing in towns and villages, and in order to establish people’s cooperative organizations, we will provide support, finances, materials, and make other arrangements. 64. Regarding the cooperative organizations of the period of Japanese occupation, we will register them, analyze their assets, and manage them according to law. Moreover, the mass organizations and all kinds of cooperative societies should take charge of charitable work, for which materials will be organized. 65. Social welfare institutions of the period of Japanese occupation should continue operating, and should develop further. 66. Taiwan’s customs and ceremonies should be rationally regulated. 67. In regards to charitable work, we should develop close connections with the international reparations offices and other charitable organizations, with an emphasis on agriculture and industry. Included after this draft are a list of suggested changes, additions from Jiang Jieshi and the central committee; nothing too major, but most of them are concerned with either the keeping on of some Japanese, the responsibilities of Japan towards Taiwan, and the state take-over of Japanese assets Notes: 1) The final version was issued on March 14, 1945. 2) Throughout the text, the term used for the recovery of Taiwan is not the same term that came into use after the end of the war. Here the term is huifu （恢復 恢复）, which is relatively value neutral, while afterwards it became guangfu (光復 光复), with the latter having a more glorified connotation. ________________________________ * The head of this group was Chen Yi, who became the Governor of Taiwan in October, 1945. Previously he had been Governor of Fujian Province and in 1936 he sent an investigative mission to Taiwan. This mission produced a favorable report on Taiwan as a model for development that Fujian could follow. * Very few changes were to be made to the administrative structure, but at the lowest levels the names were to be changed to accord with the system of the ROC.