After a series of military defeats, in the 1870s the Ching initiated a program of Westernization and strengthening of the armed forces. Taiwan's administrators at this time included Shen Pao-chen and Ting Jih-chang. Shen strengthened the island's defenses and put up electric power lines, while Ting finished up Shen's projects during his own brief tenure.
一八七○年代出掌台灣事務的沈葆楨、丁日昌相當勵精圖治，沈葆楨加強軍事防務，試行電線的鋪設，丁日昌則將其未竟的工程完成。