As U.S. lawmakers visited Taiwan this month, Chinese officials criticized the move, believing it meant the U.S. backed the island’s independence. And the tension under these circumstances is nothing new. It began when Republic of China leaders fled the mainland during the communist takeover in 1949. Taiwan became an independently-governed democracy, while China viewed it as a breakaway province.
The controversy over Taiwan’s status continues as the United States has publicly stated it supports the island as a democracy, but falls short of officially taking any hard stances against China. Nevertheless, China has taken steps to potentially prepare for war with the U.S.
