Why do many people in Taiwan have ancestral roots in Fujian?

Many people in Taiwan have ancestral roots in Fujian province because of centuries of migration from southern coastal China to the island.12

While Chinese fishermen and farmers likely began settling on Taiwan as early as the 7th century, the majority of these early migrants—known as the Hoklo or Fukien Taiwanese—arrived between the 14th and 17th centuries. This migration was further encouraged by leaders like Zheng Chenggong, who used the Fujian coast as a base for his operations and brought large numbers of people to Taiwan in the 17th century.234

Following the fall of the Ming dynasty, Taiwan was governed as part of Fujian province for two centuries, beginning in 1683. This long period of administrative and cultural connection solidified the demographic ties between the two regions. Today, the Hoklo, who trace their origins to southern Fujian, constitute the majority ethnic group in Taiwan, making up approximately 65 percent of its residents.342