True or False??: Taiwan has always belonged to China since ancient times.?

Question

On official government websites of the People's Republic of China, I often see remarks to the effect that "Taiwan has always belonged to China since ancient times."

Are such statements true or false? What are the details?

Answer 1

In the modern era, the earliest settlement of Taiwan was by the Dutch in the 1600's. There had been no Chinese claims of sovereignty over Taiwan before that period. The formal date for the beginning of Dutch rule over Taiwan is usually stated as 1624.

Of course, there had been many explorers from various nations who had visited Taiwan in previous eras.

Additionally, well before the 1600's, Taiwan had been inhabited by aborigines for centuries. Nevertheless, the aborigines did not establish a central government, issue land deeds, keep census records, initiate public works, or undertake other actions which would serve to establish sovereignty over the island.

Hence, the historical record states that Holland (i.e. the Dutch) were the first country to establish sovereignty over Taiwan.

In a nutshell, the answer to whether Taiwan has always belonged to China since ancient times is NO.

Answer 2

Complex question.

Well the People's Republic of China is Taiwan's official name.

The notion that Taiwan was always part of China is not exactly true, in fact the first major Chinese settlement seems to date to the 16th century dutch importing workers from China.

There may have been a connection once in the 3rd dynasty thousands of years ago, but if so that connection was lost for a couple millennium.

Answer 3

First of all, Malikail (see above) is wrong. The official name of Taiwan is the Republic of China, not the People's Republic of China.
Taiwan belonged to Imperial China only from 1683, hardly "ancient times", when Koxinga (Cheng chen-kung) and his descendants were finally defeated, was ceded to the Japanese in 1895 and then reclaimed by the Chinese Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek after WW2. It has never been part of the PRC, and never will be unless they take it by force. This would be a waste of time, as in doing so they would have to destroy Taiwan's economy and infrastructure, which is the only reason they want it anyway.
So - the answer is NO!

Answer 4

The political division occured during the Chinese Revolution. The participants are dying off. Merging Taiwan with the mainland is not so opposed by the current population as before. The U.S. shouldn't get into a conflict over the issue.

Answer 5

To begin with the notion of statehood or nationhood, in other words of the idea of sovereignty is fairly recent idea. Even the countries of Europe did not become the countries we know today till the13- 15th century. So Taiwan could not have belonged to China since ancient times. Culturally perhaps.

Answer 6

Taiwan and china have been arch enemies for a long time. at some points taiwan belonged to china but right now i don't think it helps. check on a taiwanese website to get a full perspective!

Answer 7

True when the communists took over the Kuomintang (democrats) fled there and stayed have a look on wikepeida.com

Answer 8

ya ever since i think around 18th century, the Qing Dynasty restored the small island from the Zheng family who restored the island from the foreigners

Answer 9

Gautanamo Bay is US territory? True or False?

You have an answer to your question - NO !