ABSTRACT
“TAIWAN: TOO BIG TO IGNORE” proclaimed The New York Times in early 1990. Attaching apparent hyperbole to an area only a third the size of Virginia or a little smaller than Switzerland provokes one to ask just how such a small piece of the earth 160 kilometers (96 miles) away from the mainland of Asia overcame its seemingly overwhelming physical limitations. Today Taiwan remains, as it has always been, quite small in total area, yet it has clearly traversed a development path that has strikingly altered its natural environment and given shape to cultural landscapes that resonate both an inherited Chinese character and international elements. The transformation of Taiwan’s landscapes is a compelling story that involved acknowledging and overcoming conspicuous constraints as well as seizing opportunities at critical times. In the process, “little” Taiwan indeed has become “too big” to ignore.
