「留守政府」時期外務卿副島種臣對外政策的檢討：臺灣「番地無主論」之形成與運用

This article discusses the transition from the formation to the application of the statement on ＂Terra nullius in Taiwanese aboriginal area,＂ proposed by Soejima Taneomi from 1872 to 1873, as a response to the massacre of Ryūkyūan residents in ＂Taiwanese aboriginal area.＂ Coherently, this article also reinspects several significant factors and subjects during this process, such as the influence of the United States, Soejima's status, the dispatch of warships, and the procrastination on the political negotiation in regard to ＂Taiwanese aboriginal area.＂ There are some generalizations as follows: First, Initially, Soejima considered that ＂Taiwanese aboriginal area＂ didn't belong to the Qing Dynasty according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan's report on Taiwan. Afterwards, in the Fifth Opinion, he made an explicit statement on ＂Terra Nullius in Taiwanese Aboriginal Area＂ from the standpoint of international law. Second, The United States' major influence on Soejima was converting his action from dispatching troops to seeking diplomatic negotiation with the Qing Dynasty, and after that inspiring his ambition to occupy the ＂aboriginal area.＂ Third, Based on Soejima's persistence in his assertion of ＂Terra Nullius in Taiwanese Aboriginal Area,＂ it was obvious that he had strong intentions on expanding the border of Japan and had taken aim at ＂Taiwanese aboriginal area.＂ Fourth, The appointment of ambassadors and naval dispatches were usual diplomatic practices with actual demand and wouldn't be relating them directly to the confrontation between Soejima and the Government of Japan. Fifth, Avoiding the controversy over the Ryukyu incident and the statement on ＂Terra Nullius in Taiwanese Aboriginal Area＂ were Soejima's main strategies for diplomatic negotiation with the Qing Dynasty.