The Chinese military leader Zheng Chenggong (郑成功, also known as Koxinga, 國姓爺) defeated the forces of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) occupying Formosa (Taiwan) in 1662, and established Chinese rule over the island.
This liberation of Taiwan by Chinese from the mainland, and victory over foreign colonialism and imperialism, made Zheng/Koxinga a figure suitable for use in propaganda campaigns.