The Chinese annexed Taiwan in 1684 but made no serious attempt to govern it until the 1870s. When Commodore Perry asked the Qing Emperor in 1854 who controlled Taiwan the Emperor told him it was full of barbarians and that nobody controlled the island.
When the first Sino-Japanese war ended in 1895 the Chinese easily ceded Taiwan to Japan while fiercely defending against Japans territorial demands in Manchuria. Japanese control of the island continued until 1945 and from then until Chiang Kai-shek arrived in 1949, the US Marines controlled Taiwan.
Even today, many Taiwanese identify with Japan more than China.
The Chinese annexed Taiwan in 1684 but made no serious attempt to govern it until the 1870s. When Commodore Perry asked the Qing Emperor in 1854 who controlled Taiwan the Emperor told him it was full of barbarians and that nobody controlled the island.
When the first Sino-Japanese war ended in 1895 the Chinese easily ceded Taiwan to Japan while fiercely defending against Japans territorial demands in Manchuria. Japanese control of the island continued until 1945 and from then until Chiang Kai-shek arrived in 1949, the US Marines controlled Taiwan.
Even today, many Taiwanese identify with Japan more than China.