What is 'Taiwan independence' and what does that mean for Trump and Xi?

Taiwan's history dates back to the Qing dynasty's incorporation of the island into Fujian province in 1684, followed by its designation as a separate Chinese province in 1885. After the Qing dynasty's defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, Taiwan became a Japanese colony in 1895. During World War Two, Japan surrendered, and the Republic of China government moved its capital to Taiwan in 1945, which remains the island's formal name today.

Following Mao Zedong's Communist forces' victory in 1949, the Republic of China declared itself the sole legitimate government of China, including Taiwan, while the People's Republic of China was established.

Taiwan's international status remains complex, with the Republic of China in Taipei asserting its sovereignty and holding de facto embassies in various countries, while China maintains that the island will not renounce the use of force to bring it under its control. The United States maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity regarding its defense commitments to Taiwan, bound by the Taiwan Relations Act to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

China's stance on Taiwan's future is clear-cut, with President Xi Jinping expressing hope that the US will adhere to the "correct position" of opposing Taiwan independence. Should Taiwan declare independence, it would be a challenging process requiring parliamentary approval of a constitutional amendment and a subsequent referendum, where at least 75% of lawmakers would need to support the change.

The current ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the main opposition Kuomintang both oppose changing the Republic of China's name. Taiwan's president, Lai Ching-te, has been accused by China of being a "separatist," but Lai maintains that Taiwan is already an independent country.