How did the Qing dynasty gain control of Taiwan in 1683?

The Qing dynasty gained control of Taiwan in 1683 by taking advantage of internal instability on the island following the death of Zheng Jing.1

After the death of Zheng Chenggong—who had expelled the Dutch in 1662 and established a Ming-loyalist government on Taiwan—his son Zheng Jing continued to resist the Manchu-led Qing dynasty from bases in Fujian province. Following Zheng Jing's death, a period of court intrigue and succession struggles weakened the resistance's hold on the island. The Qing government, under the Kangxi emperor, seized this opportunity to launch an invasion and successfully took control of Taiwan in 1683.12

Following the conquest, Taiwan was incorporated into the empire and governed as part of Fujian province. The Kangxi emperor subsequently lifted restrictions on coastal trade, opening four ports to foreign ships to stimulate economic activity.123