History_of_Taiwan This article discusses the history of Taiwan (including Penghu). For history of the polity which currently governs Taiwan, see history of the Republic of China.The island of Taiwan (excluding Penghu) was first populated by Austronesian people. It was colonized by the Dutch in the 17th century, followed by an influx of Han Chinese including Hakka immigrants from areas of Fujian and Guangdong of mainland China, across the Taiwan Strait.