5. The Annexation of Taiwan by Japan
After the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), China ceded Taiwan to Japan under the Treaty of Shimonoseki. The island’s enduring separation is a symbol of national fragmentation and a rallying point in present-day cross-straits policy. For a detailed account of Taiwan’s history and its annexation by Japan, refer to the Smithsonian Magazine article on how Taiwan became Chinese (en.wikipedia.org).
