Co-rulers? I dun think so.
Anyway, an article from http://cta.yam.org.tw/cta32.htm
Taiwan Struggling for Independence:
A Historical Perspective
By Tsai Pai-chuan and Chi-ming Ng
Taiwan As a Base for Japanese Southward Adventure (1895 -
1945)
¡@ The Japanese colonization of Taiwan was divided into three
periods, a coincidental reflection of the different styles of
Taiwanese reactions to Japanese rule.
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Armed Uprising (1895 - 1919)
a).Continuing Resistance and Military Governors
¡@Although the Republic of Formosa had been officially terminated
in October 1895, Taiwanese guerrilla resistance elements were not
exterminated until May l902 when Lin Shao-mao was executed, though
rebellions continued to erupt intermittently from 1907 through
1915, when Yu Ching-fan was executed.
¡@During this period, military governors were sent to Taiwan with
absolute executive, legislative and judicial powers conferred by
the Japanese Diet through the "Law No. 63." This period witnessed
more than 100 uprisings in Taiwan, with 5,884 persons convicted and
4,430 of them executed in addition to tens of thousands martyred
anonymously.
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b).Goto Shinpei and His Initiatives
¡@ Those military governors, however, laid a solid foundation for
the subsequent effective Japanese colonization of Taiwan, thanks to
the initiatives of Goto Shinpei, director in charge of civil
affairs (1898 - 1906) at the Taiwan Governor's Office.
¡@On civil affairs, Goto phased in the so-called "Principle of
Biology" (gradual introduction of Japanese system and culture),
beginning with an extensive "investigation of the old Taiwanese
customs." It was based on the results of those investigations that
old Taiwanese laws and regulations were revised and new ones were
enacted to pave a way for smooth Japanese colonization of
Taiwan.
¡@On economic affairs, Goto implemented three major infrastructure
projects: (i) scientific survey of flat lands for tax collection
purposes, (ii) railroad construction to connect the west coast
formerly separated by east-west rivers, (iii) modernization of
Keelung and Kaohsiung harbors with railroad terminals.
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Non-Violent Resistance (1919 - 1936)
a).¡@ Japanese Extensionism and Civilian Governors
¡@Following the end of the World War I, there was a wide spread of
nationalism in the Third World. For example, the eruption of the
Korean independence movement in 1919 forced Japan to adopt a new
policy of "Japanese extensionism" to extend her cultures to her
colonies. Under such a new policy, civilian governors of Taiwan
were appointed.
¡@Since l920, the Japanese Empire began to phase in a public policy
of "Industrial Japan Proper and agricultural Taiwan" to meet the
needs of the growing population in Japan. In 1930, in line with her
Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, the empire further
introduced her industrial plan to satisfy the requirements of her
military expansion to China and Southeast Asia, thus forcing Taiwan
to play the role as a war base.
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b).First-Ever Taiwanese Civic Organizations
¡@ This period saw eruptions of non-violent resistance in Taiwan.
The New People Association, formed in 1919 to lobby the Japan Diet
for the repeal of the Law 63 and the establishment of an
independent Taiwan Parliament, existed from 1920 to 1934. The
Taiwanese Cultural Association was set up in l921 to send
articulate intelligentsia to make itinerant speeches throughout the
island to enlighten the Taiwanese. Subsequently, right-wingers of
the association broke away and established the Taiwan Commoners
Party in l927, the first of its kind in Taiwan. Associations
established in the ensuing years included other civic
organizations, such as Taiwanese Federation of Farmers Unions,
Taiwanese Federation of Workers Unions, and even Taiwanese
Communist Party. But those organizations were either mercilessly
suppressed or banned by the Japanese colonial government. The last
one that became dissolved in l937 was the Taiwanese Alliance for
Local Autonomy.
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Resumption of Military Rule (1936-45)
¡@ The Taiwan Governor's Office was headed by militarists once
again since l936 when the Sino-Japanese War gathered momentum.
Under the Japan's "Super National Defense" and "General
Mobilization" policies, Taiwan was placed in the wartime system of
Japan during World War II.
¡@For the general mobilization purposes, the Japanese Empire,
following its radical assimilation policy, forbade Taiwanese from
maintaining their old customs and encouraging them to speak the
Japanese language and to use Japanese-style names. In l941, a
so-called "Tribute to Emperor Society" with island-wide branches
was formed to enforce the assimilation policy.
¡@Taiwan became a source of soldiers, too. Volunteers were
recruited and sent to the war effort since 1942 and a mandatory
military service system was introduced in January l945, when
207,183 soldiers mobilized, 30,304 of which died in actions. World
War II ended on August 15, l945 when the Japanese Emperor Hirohito
announced unconditional surrender and abdicated Taiwan. Thereupon,
Taiwan fell into the hands of another foreign regime, an
unprecedented barbarian one in the history of Taiwan.
