Taiwan's history began with indigenous peoples who inhabited the island for thousands of years. In the 17th century, the Dutch and Spanish established colonies, but the island was later taken over by the Qing Dynasty of China in 1683. After the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895, Taiwan was ceded to Japan, which ruled until the end of World War II in 1945. Following Japan's defeat, Taiwan was placed under the control of the Republic of China (ROC). In 1949, after the Chinese Civil War, the ROC government retreated to Taiwan, while the People's Republic of China (PRC) was established on the mainland. Since then, Taiwan has developed its own identity and democratic government, while its political status remains a complex issue.