A Study Of The Comfort Women Issue In Taiwan

Taiwan was ruled as a Japanese colony for 50 years since it was ceded to Japan in 1895.With the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific War,Taiwan became Japan’s southern base.Under the “Comfort Women” system supervised by the Government-General of Taiwan,a large number of impoverished Han women in Taiwan were sent overseas to become "comfort women",and indigenous women were forced by the local police to provide sexual services for the Taiwan Garrison.The existence of the “comfort women” was not confirmed until 1992,when Japanese congressman Ito Hideko found three telegrams in the Library of the Defense Ministry that confirmed the existence of Taiwan’s "comfort women".Subsequently,the Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation set up a complaint line,making the issue of Taiwan’s "comfort women" public knowledge.Based on the background and history of Taiwan’s "Comfort Women" system,this paper examines Japan’s colonial policy towards Taiwan and seeks to clarify the mobilization of Taiwan "comfort women" system,establishment of the comfort station contractor and finance company,the Government-General’s recruitment model for “comfort women” and the historical facts of those who were dispatched abroad.Secondly,based on the author’s field investigation of Taiwan comfort stations,this paper seeks to collate the location,quantity,type,characteristics and conditions of these comfort stations which span the island of Taiwan in various forms.Moreover,there are five comfort stations that still remain in Taiwan.Thirdly,using the collection,integration and analysis of oral information collected that describe the experiences of Taiwan “comfort women”,it has been observed that the vast majority of the victims were impoverished,and were mostly foster children or adopted child brides.The victims were mainly from southern China,Southeast Asia and other regions.Their experiences as “comfort women” has caused them lasting physical and psychological damage.The number of Taiwan "comfort women" is estimated to be between 10,000 to 20,000.Finally,based on the inputs of the Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation,the Taiwan authorities,Tainan Association for Comfort Women’s Rights and other organizations,this paper seeks to analyze and showcase the Taiwanese community’s care and support for the Taiwan "comfort women".At the urging of the Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation,the Taiwan authorities formed a cross-ministerial task force to pursue compensation claims against the Japanese Government.The Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation also promoted the publication of the issue of comfort women in history textbooks,the preservation of the remains of Taiwan comfort stations,the publication of books and documentaries,staging of video exhibitions,campus publicity drives and protests,and demonstrations against Japan.The first Taiwan comfort women museum “Ama Museum” was set up in Taipei due to the relentless efforts of the Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation to preserve relevant historical materials in 2016.Ma Ying-jeou,the former Taiwan leader,has repeatedly and publicly expressed the authorities’ support for Taiwan’s “comfort women”,and pushed for fairness and justice for Taiwan comfort women victims.In 2018,Taiwan’s first bronze statue of "comfort women" was set up in Tainan City thanks to the efforts of the Tainan Association for Comfort Women’s Rights.