The Spanish complained in 1632 that northern Taiwan lacked rowers from Africa for their ships. Cheng was known to have brought African slaves to Taiwan. While a large number of slaves sent to northern Taiwan were Africans, the majority were from the Philippines, an important source of slaves. Fang writes that African slaves found the weather in northern Taiwan difficult and some tried to escape (recall that it frosted in northern Taiwan regularly until the end of the Japanese period as the globe warmed). Koxinga brought Africans to Taiwan when he tossed out the Dutch, now a key component of the legends surrounding the pirate lord of Formosa.

Source: Taipei Times March 29, 2026 17:12 UTC