Chinese leader Xi Jinping told President Donald Trump on Thursday that disagreement over Taiwan could send relations down a dangerous path . He stated that "Taiwan independence" and cross-Taiwan Strait peace are as "irreconcilable as fire and water", underscoring Beijing's stance. Below are some questions and answers about what is meant by the term "Taiwan independence" and the positions of the Chinese, US and Taiwanese governments. What is Taiwan’s history and formal name today? The contentious issue of Taiwan's status, often called "Taiwan independence", is rooted in complex history. Known as Formosa, the island was home to indigenous people for millennia, with brief Dutch and Spanish rule in the 1600s. The Qing dynasty incorporated Taiwan in 1684, making it a separate Chinese province in 1885. After defeat by Japan, it became a Japanese colony in 1895, then handed to the Republic of China (ROC) government in 1945 post-World War Two.…