Taiwan, previously called the "Island of Formosa" or the "Formosa Republic", along with other variations of this same name, is found between mainland China and Japan and thus makes it a hotspot for trade, and countries have fought over it for centuries. "Formosa" was the name given to this island in the mid-1500s by the Portuguese, and during the late 1600s and early 1700s, it was part of the Qing Empire, until becoming its own established territory in the early 1800s. During the Chinese rule, the Formosa natives were treated very poorly, however farmers became an important part of the Formosa economy. The "Island Formosa" is mentioned in "A Modest Proposal" in the excerpt below:

"But, in order to justify my Friend; he confessed, that this Expedient was put into his Head by the famous Salmanaasor, a Native of the Island Formosa, who came from thence to London, above twenty Years ago..." (Swift).