Before the middle of the 19th century, Qing rule over Taiwan followed a policy of "preventing the descendants of the pro-Ming followers of Zheng Chenggong from causing trouble, but not being too active in administering government," says Lin Yu-ju, a doctoral candidate in history at National Taiwan University. Whether in regard to posting officials or stationing troops or managing tribal affairs, the policy adopted was "passive."
在十九世紀中期以前，清朝治理台灣的政策，「防颱（防止明鄭遺族以台灣為基地滋生事端）而不積極治台」，台大歷史研究所博士候選人林育茹表示，不管是設官治理，或是屯兵、理番等事，採的是「被動而消極」的策略。