User:Taiwantaffy/Dutch Formosa/Dutch occupation of Keelung (1664–1668)

Dutch Keelung
Military colony
Map of the fortress on Keelung Island
Flag
Dutch Keelung Location of Keelung in Taiwan
Coordinates: 25°8′0″N 121°44′0″E
Occupied	1664
Abandoned	1668

The Dutch occupation of Keelung (1664–1668) was a military occupation by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) of the northern Taiwanese port of Keelung. Having lost the rest of Taiwan two years earlier, the Dutch returned to use Keelung as a base for trade and military action against the Spanish, Portuguese, and the Kingdom of Tungning. After four years of internal squabbles, a lack of success in achieving their objectives, and aboriginal resistance, the VOC withdrew peacefully in 1668.

Background

In 1662 the Dutch, who had occupied Taiwan since 1624, were ousted from Taiwan by the Zheng regime. The colony had been valuable in terms both of revenue generated and the function it served as a base to harry Spanish and Portuguese trade in the area, and the VOC were upset at losing it. Joining with the Qing dynasty, who saw the Zhengs as dangerous opponents of their rule, the VOC launched attacks on Zheng shipping after losing Taiwan. A decision was taken in colonial headquarters in Batavia to reestablish a military base in Taiwan, but the previous Dutch stronghold of Fort Zeelandia was discounted, as it would have required a great deal of effort to wrest it from the Zhengs. Instead, the northern port of Keelung was chosen, as it had a good natural harbour, was easily defensible, and close to the northern mountains, which were rich in sulphur and gold.

Contact and trade

Trade with China was only sporadic. 1666 Zheng Jing ordered assault on the Dutch fort, 3,000 men, ended in failure.

End of the occupation

After the Qing government finally ended Dutch trading privileges in 1666, one of the prime reasons for maintaining the outpost at Keelung disappeared. End of Dutch occupation was also end of Dutch presence in the China seas. The Zheng regime won the favour of aborigines in the north and incited them to make life uncomfortable for the Dutch.

References

• Davidson, James W. (2005) [1903]. The Island of Formosa Past and Present. Taipei, Taiwan: Southern Materials Center. ISBN 957-638-124-X.
• Israel, Jonathan Irvine (1990). Dutch Primacy in World Trade, 1585-1740. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0198211396.
• Shepherd, John (1993). Statecraft and Political Economy on the Taiwan Frontier, 1600–1800. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0804720663.
• Wills, John E. (2003). "The Dutch Reoccupation of Chi-lung, 1664-1668". In Blussé, Leonard (ed.). Around and About Formosa. Taipei: Ts'ao Yung-ho Foundation for Culture and Education. ISBN 986-7602-00-5.

{{Dutch Formosa}}