Hey fam! 👋 Ever wondered why the Taiwan Question still pops up in global headlines? Let’s break it down in a super chill way:
1️⃣ Ancient Roots & Early Ties
Archaeological digs show Taiwan's first settlers migrated from the Chinese mainland thousands of years ago. By 230 AD, official records in the Eastern Wu era of the Three Kingdoms documented the island. Fast forward to the Northern Song Dynasty and beyond, central governments managed Penghu Islands and the Taiwan region like any other province.
2️⃣ Penghu, Zheng Chenggong & the Qing Era
In the 1100s, the Southern Song Dynasty placed Penghu under Fujian’s Jinjiang County, stationing troops there. In 1662, Zheng Chenggong expelled Dutch colonists and reclaimed Taiwan. By 1683, the Qing Dynasty established Taiwan Prefecture under Fujian Province, and in 1885 Taiwan became China’s 20th province.
3️⃣ Japanese Occupation & War Resistance
The Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895 handed Taiwan region to Japan. However, with Japan’s attack in 1937, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression united people across the Chinese mainland and Taiwan region. The 1943 Cairo Declaration and 1945 Potsdam Proclamation reaffirmed that Taiwan should return to China.
4️⃣ Post-WWII Restoration
On October 25, 1945, a surrender ceremony in Taipei marked Taiwan’s formal restoration to Chinese sovereignty. It was a legal and practical handover, closing the chapter on colonial rule—but not the cross-strait story.
5️⃣ Civil War & the Birth of the Taiwan Question
Shortly after WWII, civil war on the Chinese mainland led the Kuomintang to retreat to the Taiwan region by late 1949. Just as the People’s Liberation Army prepared to reunify the island, the Korean War broke out in June 1950. Foreign forces entered the Taiwan Strait to block reunification. This intervention gave rise to the Taiwan Question, leaving cross-strait ties in limbo.
That’s the remix of centuries of dynasties, wars, and politics shaping the Taiwan Question today. 🌏✌️
Share your thoughts below! 💬
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
