Effects of Spanish Taiwan

[Anticlimacus]

Why would the Qing invade a trading post that supplied them with all that mexican silver?

Spanish coins were widely used in China. If they alienate their relationship with Spain by invading Spanish Taiwan they would lose that silver.

 

[EternalCynic]

Why would the Qing invade a trading post that supplied them with all that mexican silver?

Spanish coins were widely used in China. If they alienate their relationship with Spain by invading Spanish Taiwan they would lose that silver.

Why would Spain need Taiwan as a trading post to China when they already have Manila? Besides, when Spain and Portugal were in a personal union there already was access to the much convenient Macau. And what natural resources does Taiwan provide which the much larger Philippines (or for that matter, the much closer Central America) cannot?

Let me reiterate my main point: any European colony on Taiwan would almost certainly attract Chinese settlement much earlier and much more numerous than OTL. Given Spain's hostility towards non-Catholic religious practices (or anything else which impedes the life of the Chinese settlers), a Chinese rebellion will happen sooner rather than later. This does not mean the uprising occurs *because* of the Inquisition, but the Inquisition plays a role which would not exist if the colonial power was tolerant of religious diversity. This in turn could lead to a voluntary annexation by the Qing Empire. Even if Taiwan remains independent, life won't be easy for any (remaining) Catholics on the island.

And finally even if Spain is annoyed by an actual Chinese invasion of Taiwan (which seems very out of character for a civilization which created The Art of War), would they end the extremely lucrative trade route over it?

 

[Tocomocho]

What makes a Chinese revolt in Taiwan any more likely to succeed than those that were crushed in the Philippines? And why is people assuming that Chinese will come in greater numbers to Spanish taiwan than they did to Spanish Luzon IOTL?

My first though upon reading the OP was just "So the Philippines have another island, big difference!".

 

[kasumigenx]

What makes a Chinese revolt in Taiwan any more likely to succeed than those that were crushed in the Philippines? And why is people assuming that Chinese will come in greater numbers to Spanish taiwan than they did to Spanish Luzon IOTL?

My first though upon reading the OP was just "So the Philippines have another island, big difference!".

Actually, the main reason why the Spanish weren't able to colonize Mindanao quicker before the Sultanate of Mindanao has control in Mindanao is that Luzon was basically "sold" to the Spanish by the Bruneian nobles(The descendants of these Nobles would later had priveledges under the Spanish rule, later some descendants retained these priveledges and became very loyal to the Spanish) who were assigned to rule and inherited Mayi and Luzon in general (because the Mayi heiress was married to the Bruneian nobility, particularly to the Bolkiah family after Selurong was sacked) after the Spanish subjugated the Southern part of Luzon and the people of Luzon were very difficult to conquer for the Spanish, I just think if Selurong was not sacked and Mayi survives and the Mayi nobility and its Tondo dynasty was intact it would be impossible for the Spanish to conquer Luzon because in OTL the Mountain people there werent conquerable, they might get parts of it but not almost all like in OTL, I think in that scenario the Spanish might be more interested to get Taiwan or Mindanao.