In 1661 after 37 years of dutch rule the chinese launched a fleet to conqure the dutch colony of Formosa, due to a freak storm much of the chinese fleet was destroyed, the dutch defenders were able to fight off and defeat the Ming Fleet, the utter destruction of the fleet is often credited with being one of the main things that led to the Qings victory in their war of conquest against china.
The Dutch continued to hold onto the Island until they lost it to the british empire in the 3rd anglo dutch war of 1672, It remained a part of the british empire until it was granted home rule in the 1950s, but what if the chinese had managed to conquer the Island. How would that have changed the world?
Would the Ming be able to hold onto power? Would the british empire be able to function with out the jewel of the orient safe garding the eastern part of their empire? What would Formosa look like with out over 200 years of british rule?
The Dutch continued to hold onto the Island until they lost it to the british empire in the 3rd anglo dutch war of 1672, It remained a part of the british empire until it was granted home rule in the 1950s, but what if the chinese had managed to conquer the Island. How would that have changed the world?
Would the Ming be able to hold onto power? Would the british empire be able to function with out the jewel of the orient safe garding the eastern part of their empire? What would Formosa look like with out over 200 years of british rule?