Department of Cultural Affairs

The White House, Tianmu (Former U.S. Military Advisors’ Residence)

The White House of Tianmu originally served as a dwelling for US soldiers during the era when the American military was stationed on Taiwan. In June of 1950, with the outbreak of the Korean War, the United States came to view Taiwan as a vital part of America’s line of defense in the Pacific, an “unsinkable aircraft carrier.” The US thus began sending its Seventh Fleet to patrol the Taiwan Strait, blocking an invasion of Taiwan by the PRC. In 1951, the US placed a detachment of military advisors on Taiwan, and the two countries signed a Mutual Defense Treaty in 1954, after which America’s military presence on Taiwan increased. Subsequently, Taiwan became an indispensable ally of the United States in its efforts to halt the spread of communism during the Cold War period.
To make the life of American personnel in Taiwan pleasant and orderly, the ROC government constructed several high-quality barracks in the Shilin District, allowing American military personnel to enjoy First World standards of living in what was then a Third World country. These houses, a fusion of American and Japanese architectural styles, featured yards, external walls of white clapboard and roofs of black tile. The interiors featured fireplaces and niches built into the walls.
In 1978, the United States announced it would officially recognize the People’s Republic of China, and severed formal diplomatic ties with the Republic of China. Afterwards, American military personnel left Taiwan in successive waves. Today few dwellings for American military personnel remain. The White House of Tianmu is exceptionally valuable as a showcase of this historical period, and is very worthy of preservation.