evidence: Despite having never controlled Taiwan, China’s ruling Communist Party has vowed to "reunify" with the self-governing democracy, by force if necessary. But many people on the island view themselves as distinctly Taiwanese and have no desire to be part of the People’s Republic of China. [...] The ROC later took control of Taiwan in 1945, following Japan’s defeat in World War II. Four years later, its Nationalist government then fled to the island after losing a civil war against Mao Zedong’s Communist forces, moving the seat of the ROC from the mainland to Taipei. [...] "Taiwan is China’s sacred territory. Blood is thicker than water, and people on both sides of the strait are connected by blood," he said, vowing to resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" separatist activities.