What is Taiwan independence and is Taiwan already independent?

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Taiwan flags hang above the streets in Taoyuan, Taiwan, May 13, 2021. REUTERS/Ann Wang

TAIPEI - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he expects to reach a fair trade deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping and downplayed risks of a clash over the issue of Taiwan.

Asked by a reporter whether the U.S. might adjust its position on Taiwan independence in order to reach a trade deal with China, Trump said: Were going to be talking about a lot of things. I assume that will be one of them, but Im not going to talk about it now.

Below are some questions and answers about what is meant by the term Taiwan independence.

WHAT IS TAIWANS HISTORY AND FORMAL NAME TODAY?

Previously known as Formosa, the island has been home to indigenous people for thousands of years, before the Dutch and Spanish briefly ruled parts of it in the 1600s.

The Qing dynasty incorporated Taiwan as part of Fujian province in 1684 and only declared it a separate Chinese province in 1885.

Following the Qings defeat in a war with Japan, it became a Japanese colony in 1895. In 1945, it was handed over to the Republic of China government at the end of World War Two.

In 1949 after being defeated by Mao Zedongs communist forces, the Republic of China government fled and moved its capital to Taiwan, and Republic of China remains the islands formal name. Mao set up the Peoples Republic of China, and claimed it was the only legitimate Chinese government for the whole of China, including Taiwan, as the Republic