The Unfolding Crisis: Dutch Encroachment on Ming Territory

In the early 17th century, the newly independent Dutch Republic—fresh from its eighty-year struggle against Spanish rule—sought to expand its global trade network. The Dutch East India Company , a strategic archipelago west of Taiwan, as a crucial foothold near China’s Fujian coast. In 1604, Dutch forces seized Penghu without Ming dynasty authorization, marking the start of a high-stakes confrontation.

By 1622, VOC commander Reijersen escalated tensions by occupying Penghu with a fleet of 15 warships while blockading Zhangzhou’s coastline. Their demands were audacious: open trade ports, cede Penghu permanently, and prohibit Ming commerce with Portugal and Spain. When Fujian’s governor Shang Zhouzuo ordered their withdrawal, the Dutch infamously replied they lacked authority to retreat without VOC approval—a brazen stalling tactic.

Ming Dynasty’s Calculated Response

Faced with Dutch intransigence, the Tianqi Emperor appointed Nan Juyi as Fujian’s new governor in 1624 with explicit orders: expel the invaders. Nan initially pursued diplomacy, inviting Dutch representatives to Fuzhou for negotiations. What followed was a masterclass in strategic deception.

During a seemingly cordial banquet, Nan toasted the Dutch envoys with drugged wine. As the incapacitated delegates collapsed, Ming forces destroyed their anchored ships. One vessel escaped to warn Penghu’s garrison, but the damage was done—the Ming had forced open conflict on their terms.

The Brutal Siege of Penghu

Nan Juyi mobilized an overwhelming force: 200 warships and 10,000 troops under General Yu Zigao. However, the campaign exposed critical asymmetries. The Dutch had transformed Penghu into a fortress with ironclad bastions and naval artillery support. Ming junks, though numerous, struggled against Europe’s superior firepower.

For six grueling months, Ming forces launched relentless assaults. Governor Nan personally oversaw operations, but Dutch defenses held firm. The stalemate highlighted not Ming military weakness, but the challenges of projecting power against entrenched European positions—a lesson later Qing rulers would heed.

The Aftermath and Strategic Shift

Ultimately, the Dutch withdrew to Taiwan in 1624, establishing Fort Zeelandia near modern Tainan. This pyrrhic victory cost the Ming dearly, revealing vulnerabilities that Manchu forces later exploited during the Qing conquest.

By 1683, Emperor Kangxi—having crushed the Three Feudatories Rebellion after eight devastating years—turned his attention to Taiwan. His famous declaration, “I shall not rest until Taiwan is reclaimed,” reflected Qing determination to eliminate remaining Ming loyalists under Zheng Chenggong’s descendants. The Penghu conflict’s legacy thus shaped two centuries of East Asian geopolitics.

Cultural and Military Repercussions

The Dutch occupation left indelible marks:
– Introduced European firearms and fortification techniques to East Asia
– Accelerated Ming naval modernization efforts
– Established Taiwan as a contested zone between Asian and European powers

Kangxi’s eventual annexation of Taiwan in 1683, following Admiral Shi Lang’s victory at Penghu, completed Qing unification—a pivotal moment that cemented his reputation as a transformative ruler.

Conclusion: Echoes of Empire

From the poisoned cups of Fuzhou to Kangxi’s triumphant fleets, the struggle for Penghu exemplifies how regional conflicts reshaped global history. The VOC’s failed gambit inadvertently set the stage for Qing dominance, while revealing the limits of European imperialism in early modern Asia. Today, the islands’ layered legacy endures in cross-strait geopolitics—a testament to their enduring strategic significance.