Some people believe that even when most of Taipei was still deserted and weed-infested 100 years ago, its current crowded condition was being predestined.
Taipei is like many cities in Taiwan. Early on it was where immigrant tribes made their home. Around the time of the Sung dynasty (960-1279), a group of aborigines settled here. Chinese began opening up the area at the end of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). But compared to the development of Tainan and Lukang, Taiwan's two big cities, Taipei's development was late. The Sino-Japanese war broke out in 1895 an Taiwan became a Japanese colony and Taipei became the seat of the Japanese colonial governor.
Development after this was not controlled by the people of Taipei, points out Hsieh You-wen, professor of political science at Chinese Cultural University. While two-thirds of the city area was still empty, the Japanese military came to the city and began development on the imperialist model. Shortly after retrocession in 1945 came the movement of the government to Taipei, which became the provisional capital of the ROC At once it became a center of political, economic, and military affairs.
Hsieh You-wen points out, the basic plan for Taipei was made under the Japanese in 1933. But their projected population was only 600,000, about one fifth of today's. Statistics of the Taipei City Government reveal that in 1968, when the city became a special municipality directly under the central government, the population was 1.6 million. In 1974 it surpassed 2 million, and is now almost three million. The population has increased an average of 2.78% (or about 60,000 persons) every year for the past twenty years.
Last December the Economist magazine of Britain did a survey of forty cities world wide. Taipei ranked 11th in rate of population growth from 1967-1987. In Asia, it was surpassed only by Kaohsiung, Sydney, and Perth. It far outpaced Jakarta, Tokyo, and Singapore.
In terms of population structure, migrants make up the bulk. According to household registration data, in-migrants have always exceeded out-migrants. Those born elsewhere make up 1.8 million residents, or two-thirds.
Several public opinion surveys reveal some points that deserve attention. Last July, the city conducted a survey of opinion trends about city government. The results indicate that: with regard to degree of concern about city government, "slightly interested" and "don't care" came to a total of 48%. Asked to compare now with one year ago, "the same" and "not certain" totalled 53%. Asked what they think the situation will be in a year, "the same" and "not certain" passed 60%.
And as for why people live in Taipei? And what is their vision of an ideal Taipei? The city government conducted surveys in 1984 and last year respectively. The results are included in the accompanying table. The first study indicates that, among the population which has moved to Taipei, most of the advantages of Taipei involve material incentives. The priorities of public order, traffic, and environment in the latter survey reflect the areas of concern to Taipei residents.
Some people see the process of urban development as a microcosm of the development of civilization. The rise in population spurs economic development, creating wealth, and leading to an accumulation of knowledge. But it also creates problems which are hard for the wisdom of mankind to resolve.
Looking at the financial records for Taipei city, one can discover, the wealth of Taipei residents has made a tremendous leap. In 1968, income for the year was only NT$2.2 billion. Four years later, it had doubled to NT$4.6 billion. Four years later it was NT$11.3 billion, and last year came to NT$67.5 billion, 3.5 times that for Kaohsiung, Taiwan's number two city.
However, problems caused by economic development are even more obvious, traffic being one example. The main problem is too many cars. There were only 27,000 cars in Taipei in 1971, an average of 209 square meters of road per car. In 1981, the number of cars was 160,000, with 72 square meters per car. This year there are 370,000 small passenger cars, and only 51 square meters per car. The Department of Transportation has discovered that as of December of the year before last, the average driving speed in Taipei was still over 20 kilometers per hour. This fell to 13 last year; pessimistic estimates say it could go as low as eight km/hr this year.
Too many cars has brought a deterioration in air quality. As of last December, the Environmental Protection Department issued a warning every two or three days. Several sub urban districts passed the "unhealthy" level. A rarely seen mid-level warning was issued several times for the Panchiao area. Further, tense urban life puts heart attacks, high blood pressure, and suicide among the top ten killers of Taipei residents.
In terms of public safety, a survey by city councilman Chang Teh-ming shows that everyday there are nine ordinary crimes (theft, injury) that go unsolved, and one serious crime (robbery, killing) every two days that goes unsolved.
One evident fact, however, is that these problems cannot be solved by the resources of the people of Taipei alone. Mayor Wu Po-hsiung notes that starting this year Taipei will incur a debt of NT$120 billion for construction, including for rapid transit and purchase of reserved land. Chang Teh-ming estimates "conservatively" that within ten years Taipei will have a debt of NT$350 billion.
Where does Taipei go from here? Mayor Wu hopes to be able to resolve the problems of traffic, drinking water, quality of life, and so on, rather than pushing more development which will attract more people. But as Taipei continues to prosper, more people come. Is the problem permanent?
Some have advocated bringing satellite cities like Panchiao, Hsintien, and even Keelung within Taipei's administrative jurisdiction. This could create more space, increase the income of the satellite cities, and help resolve disputes over water, garbage, and other issues. But the idea met opposition from Taipei city residents who feared their tax money would flow out and from Taipei County which faced the loss of its areas with the highest potential tax income.
There is another idea: to move the government to another place. It seems this is not crazy. Examples can be found in England (which moved up to 44% of the government out of densely populated London in 1940), Korea (which moved several ministries out of Seoul ten years ago), and Japan (which has just decided to move examination, research, and educational agencies two hours outside of Tokyo).
Taipei? It seems that this is not a case of fate or history, but is a practical, realistic test for this city.
[Picture]
Population change in major cities around the world, 1967-1987.
(Unit: Number of new persons added per 100)
Source: The Economist
The factors in an "ideal Taipei" as seen by Taipei residents.
Advantages of living in Taipei as seen by Taipei residents:
Source: Department of Statistics, Taipei City government
[Picture Caption]
Information is concentrated, and there's a lot of cultural stimulation-- two reasons for many to choose to live in Taipei. (photo by Arthur Cheng)
How did Taipei get this way? Some people say it is fate.
The people of Taipei anxiously hope tomorrow will be even better.
The budgets for social welfare, education, and cultural activities await beefing up. (photo by Vincent Chang)
Economic development brings job opportunities, and makes for even more people crowding into Taipei. (photo by Vincent Chang)
Blue skies, green seas, reinvigorating scenes of nature--Taipei people need these things, too.
Kuanyin Mountain, the Tamsui River, and, uh . . . garbage? A scene from a suburban area of Taipei. (photo by Arthur Cheng)
It's rare that tree-lined Jenai Road has no cars. The photo was taken at the mid-February holding of the Taipei International Marathon. (photo by Arthur Cheng)
A typical scene of vendors from Taipei's most prosperous area, the eastern district.
In a major city there are endless commercial stimulants, and all kinds of activities are to be found in abundance. (photo by Vincent Chang)
In a period of transformation, Taipei's role is even more evident. (photo by Vincent Chang)
This kind of urban impression is no stranger to the people of Taipei.
Information is concentrated, and there's a lot of cultural stimulation-- two reasons for many to choose to live in Taipei. （photo by Arthur Cheng）
How did Taipei get this way? Some people say it is fate.
The people of Taipei anxiously hope tomorrow will be even better.
The budgets for social welfare, education, and cultural activities await beefing up. （photo by Vincent Chang）
Economic development brings job opportunities, and makes for even more people crowding into Taipei. （photo by Vincent Chang）
Blue skies, green seas, reinvigorating scenes of nature--Taipei people need these things, too.
It's rare that tree-lined Jenai Road has no cars. The photo was taken at the mid-February holding of the Taipei International Marathon. （photo by Arthur Cheng）
Kuanyin Mountain, the Tamsui River, and, uh . . . garbage? A scene from a suburban area of Taipei. （photo by Arthur Cheng）
In a major city there are endless commercial stimulants, and all kinds of activities are to be found in abundance. （photo by Vincent Chang）
A typical scene of vendors from Taipei's most prosperous area, the eastern district.
In a period of transformation, Taipei's role is even more evident. （photo by Vincent Chang）
This kind of urban impression is no stranger to the people of Taipei.
This kind of urban impression is no stranger to the people of Taipei.
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