Japan occupied Taiwan for 50 years. During that period, approximately 630,000 Taiwanese were killed by Japanese. When Japan surrendered unconditionally at the end of World War II, about 100,000 Japanese soldiers remained in Taiwan. Many Japanese women did not want these soldiers to return to Japan. They believed the soldiers should have died on the battlefield or taken their own lives rather than surrender. As a result, some of these soldiers settled in different parts of Taiwan, particularly in the south. Over time, they married local women and had children. In recent years, some people have argued that the descendants of these Japanese settlers have become a significant social and political force in Taiwan. According to this view, they support the idea of Taiwan becoming independent.