The subject of biobanks has long been disputed as considerable matters and affairs convolute on the intricate and weighty issue. Mutiple models of development and operation act as the foundation and infrastructure of the biobanks' buildup, fortifying the knowledge database and conclusively contribute to the research study. Taiwan was among many countries who devoted itself to the biobanks construction regardless of the lack of legal support and national policies. Taiwan had a firm belief that the unique genetic makeup, distinctive lifestyles, and disease-causing factors of the Taiwanese genetic pool needed a well-structured study for the welfare of the Taiwanese people, hence, the formation of Taiwan Biobank came into place. This paper examines Taiwan Biobank's development and governance in light of an empirical study which offers evidence on a range of governance issues, including consent, privacy protection, benefit-sharing, and stewardship. Two matters in particular will be discussed in this paper as the range of perplexity they held for the duration of Taiwan Biobank buildup: the adopted position in the autonomy and ethnicity relation; and the taken approach that counterbalances transparency and internal governance.
