Most of the islands history revolves around nine tribes. The Chinese came into the picture in the 1400's  and in 1626 the island was invaded by Spain. After rumors spread that the island was full of gold, the Dutch attacked the Spanish and searched in vain for gold until they were kicked out by rebel Ming loyalist. The Manchu Qing Dynasty defeated the rebels in 1683, giving China full control of the island. After the 1st Sino-Japanese War in 1895, Taiwan was ceded to Japan and occupied by the Japanese until the end of World War II. In 1945, the island was handed over to Nationalist China and after the Chinese Civil War, the Communist took control of the mainland and Chaiang Kai-sheks Nationalist took control of the island. Today China claims the island, but Taiwan is all but independent, with its own military today.