Every year, Taipei prepares its citizens for a possible Chinese invasion by conducting drills where, upon hearing the sirens, civilians have three minutes to find the nearest bunker and hide for half an hour. These urban warfare drills are part of Taiwan's defense strategy amid the high-level tension dividing the two countries.
The tension originates from decades of China's ruling Communist Party claiming Taiwan as part of its territory. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s claims of sovereignty over the island, while China has vowed to achieve "reunification" by use of force if necessary. But how did this all begin?
Click through for an overview of the complicated relationship between Taiwan and China.