1683 - The Qing Dynasty conquers Taiwan, extending to the island for the first time a Chinese government and administration. The Qing Dynasty was a Manchu dynasty, and not a Han Dynasty. At the time, Qing control only consisted of the Western Plain, and neither the mountainous interior or the narrow Eastern Plain of the island.
1874 - The Zongli Yamen (The Foreign Affairs arm of the Qing government) informed Japanese representatives that the East coast of Taiwan does not fall within its jurisdiction.
1895 - China loses the Sino-Japanese War and in the subsequent Treaty of Shimonoseki, China gives up sovereignty to Japan in perpetuity, meaning forever.
1945 (September) - Japan loses World War II to the Allies and surrenderd unconditionally.
1945 (October) - Republic of China forces accept the surrender of Japanese forces on the island of Taiwan on behalf of the Allied Forces.
1947 - The 2-28 (February 28) massacre results in the death of between 18,000 and 28,000 innocent Taiwanese civlians and community leaders. They were unarmed and butchered by the ROC military. The KMT government covered this up for four decades during the period of martial law on the island. At this point in time, the status of Taiwan has yet to be determined pending the signing of a peace treaty.
Taiwan's Holocaust Remembered1949 - The KMT loses the civil war in China and retreats to Taiwan. The sovereignty issue of the island is still undertermined pending a peace treaty.
1951 - The Peace Treaty of San Francisco is signed. Japan renounces sovereignty to Taiwan, but no beneficiary is named, a critical element in the transfer of territory according to international law. Thus, accordingly, legally, the sovereignty of Taiwan belongs to its people.
San Francisco Peace Treaty - Read Article 2, Secion (b)1987 - Martial Law is lifted by the KMT. Many who were jailed, including the current president and vice-president of Taiwan were released from prison.
1996 - Taiwan holds its first presidential election. In the weeks leading up to the election, China shoots missiles to the north and south of the island in clear intimidation. The result? The Taiwanese elect the most Anti-China candidate in the field, Lee Tung-Hui.
March Missile Crisis2000 - China again threatens Taiwan over its second presidential election. Once again, the most anti-China candidate, Chen Shui-Bien wins the election. This also resulted in the first peaceful change of power between political parties in Taiwan's history.
2003 (May) - The Chinese flu (aka SARS) was exported to Taiwan from China. During the course of the disease, the Chinese government prevented the government and people from getting the help that it needed from the World Health Organization (WHO). China also prevented Taiwan from joining the WHO as an observer member.
2003 (June)
- China blocks the participation of Taiwanese delegates at the NGO "Global Summit for Women" in Morocco. The government in Rabat shamelessly denied the representatives from a democratic nation entry into the country despite their holding invitations and valid visas.