By LindaGail Arrigo, Tze-Luen Lin, and Yvonne M. Lin Source: Capria, Antonella et al. eds. (1996). Aworld Survey of Environmental Law, pp. 765 - 777. Milano, Italy. Giuffre Editore

Environmental Nightmare of the Economic Miracle

Environmental law in Taiwan is a fig leaf barely disguising rape of the environment. It is only in the last few years that popular mobilization and international attention, such as the 1994 outcry over sale of tiger parts in Taiwan, have led to enough embarrassment that the Taiwan government has felt the need for a fig leaf. It may be too little, too late, to save this once-beautiful island, "Formosa" as the Portuguese called it. There is a sudden proliferation of environmental law, but little sign of effective enforcement.