The Importance of Taiwan, and Why the United States cannot back down

On April 17th 1895, the Qing dynasty of China signed the treaty of Shimonoseki with the Empire of Japan. In doing so the Qing dynasty was forced to recognize the independence of Korea. They also gave control of Taiwan, the Pescadores islands, and the Liaodong peninsula to Japan. 

Following this, the Qing dynasty fell into a rapid decline. With heavy paym…