Formosa, now known as TAIWAN, is an island nation located off the coast of mainland China. It was originally called Formosa by Portuguese sailors in the 16th century, and the name was adopted by the Dutch and Spanish when they colonized the island. In 1895, it became a Japanese colony, and after World War II, it was placed under the control of the Republic of China. In 1949, the Chinese Nationalist government fled to TAIWAN, and the island has been governed by the Republic of China ever since.