Editing History of Taiwan (section)

===Industrialization===
[[Image:Bank of Taiwan Head Office Building 1940.jpg|thumb|Bank of Taiwan established in 1897 headquartered in Taihoku (Taipei).]]

Under the colonial government, Taiwan was introduced to a unified system of weights and measures, a centralized bank, education facilities to increase skilled labor, farmers' associations, and other institutions. Transportation and communications systems as well as facilities for travel between Japan and Taiwan were developed. Construction of large scale irrigation facilities and power plants followed. Agricultural development was the goal of colonial projects and the objective was for Taiwan to provide Japan with food and raw materials. Fertilizer and production facilities were imported from Japan. Textile and paper industries were developed near the end of Japanese rule for self-sufficiency. All modern and large enterprises were owned by the Japanese.{{sfn|Shih|1968|p=115–116}}

The [[Rail transport in Taiwan|Taiwan rail system]] connecting the south and the north and the Kīrun and Takao ports were completed to facilitate transport and shipping of raw material and agricultural products.{{sfnp|Takekoshi|1907}} Exports increased fourfold. Fifty-five percent of agricultural land was covered by dam-supported [[irrigation]] systems. Food production increased fourfold and [[Sugarcane|sugar cane]] production increased 15-fold between 1895 and 1925. Taiwan became a major foodbasket serving Japan's economy. A health care system was established. The average lifespan for a Taiwanese resident was 60 years by 1945.{{sfnp|Kerr|1966}}

Taiwan's real GDP per capita peaked in 1942 at $1,522 and declined to $693 by 1944.{{sfn|Hsiao|2017|p=197}} Wartime bombing caused significant damage to cities and harbors. The railways and factories were either badly damaged or destroyed.{{sfn|Shih|1968|p=116}} Only 40 percent of the railroads were usable and over 200 factories were bombed. Of Taiwan's four electrical power plants, three were destroyed.{{sfn|Kuo|1995|p=54}} Damage to agriculture was relatively contained but most developments came to a halt and irrigation facilities were abandoned. Since all key positions were held by Japanese, their departure left Taiwan with a severe lack of trained personnel. Inflation was rampant as a result of the war.{{sfn|Shih|1968|p=116}} Taiwan's standards of living did not recover until the 1960s.{{sfn|Hsiao|2017|p=195}}

{{wide image|File:1934 Showa 9 Panoramaic Map of Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Manchuria - Geographicus - Railguide2-japan-1934-verso reflipped.jpg|1000px|Panoramic map of the [[Empire of Japan]] including Taiwan, Korea, and Manchukuo, 1934.}}