Orchid Island's recent history is marked by a significant struggle against the imposition of a nuclear waste storage facility, profoundly affecting the Tao people.

In the 1980s, the Taiwanese government secretly began constructing a nuclear waste facility on Orchid Island, misleading the Tao people by calling it a "canning factory."

When the Tao people discovered the true nature of the facility, it ignited outrage and concern for their land, culture, and future.

The nuclear waste storage is a deep cultural affront to the Tao, whose traditions are closely tied to their sacred land and the surrounding ocean.

The facility's location near the ocean threatens the marine life that the Tao people depend on, endangering both their livelihood and cultural practices.

The Tao, alongside environmental activists and NGOs, have launched ongoing protests and advocacy efforts to remove the nuclear waste from their island.

Despite some government action, much of the waste remains, and the Tao people continue to fight for the complete removal and restoration of their land.

The struggle against the nuclear waste has ironically led to a cultural resurgence among the Tao, uniting them in the defense of their heritage.