Taihsi Village is located in Changhua County, northwest of Formosa’s Sixth Naphtha Cracker complex, and colloquially referred to as the “cancer village”. Taihsi was founded by Han settlers in the 18th century who built close relationships to the river and sea through rice cultivation and fishing (Lai 2021, 673). Taihsi village expanded agricultural production under Japanese rule, yet state-led capitalist industrialization in the 1950s stunted development, pushing villagers to seek work along the Western coast and on sugarcane plantations in Okinawa (ibid.). Industrialization in the 1970s further marginalized Changhua, resulting in relentless out-migration of younger generations and state subsidies for watermelon harvest, duck farming, and clam fishing. In addition to agricultural challenges (water scarcity, flooding, soil salinization), Taiwan’s embrace of heavy industries in the 90s, including construction of the nearby Formosa complex, introduced unforeseen environmental problems (Lai 2021, 674).
