The controversy regarding the political status of Taiwan hinges on whether Taiwan, including the Pescadores (Penghu), should remain effectively independent as territory of the Republic of China (ROC), become unified with the territories now governed by the People's Republic of China (PRC), or formally declare independence and become the Republic of Taiwan. The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait is a 180-km-wide (11185-mile-wide Strait between Mainland China and Taiwan. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. The Pescadores ( from Portuguese, "fishermen" pron pɨʃ REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES There is also a specific Chinese reunification of 1928. Chinese reunification ( is a goal of Chinese nationalism that refers to Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The Republic of Taiwan ( Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tâi-oân Kiōng-hô-kok) is a goal of supporters of Taiwan independence in creating a Taiwanese state unambiguously The controversy over the political status of the Republic of China hinges on whether its existence as a state is legitimate and recognized. Sovereignty is the exclusive Right to control a Government, a country, a people or oneself
Currently, Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen (Quemoy), Matsu and some other minor islands effectively make up the jurisdiction of the state known as the Republic of China. Kinmen, ( Traditional Chinese: 金門 Simplified Chinese: 金门 Hanyu Pinyin: Jīnmén Tongyong Pinyin: Jinmén Wades-Giles The Matsu Islands (also Mazu Islands ( are a minor Archipelago of 19 Islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait administered as Lienchiang Sovereignty is the exclusive Right to control a Government, a country, a people or oneself The ROC ruled mainland China, and claimed sovereignty over Outer Mongolia and Tannu Uriankhai (part of which is present day Tuva) before losing the Chinese Civil War and relocating its government to Taipei in December 1949. Mainland China, Continental China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term synonymous with the area that is under the jurisdiction Outer Mongolia (Ar Mongol Manchu: Tulergi Monggo) was the main part of the Bogdo Khanate of Mongolia which proclaimed its independence on 29 December 1911 Tannu Uriankhai ( Traditional Chinese: 唐努烏梁海 Simplified Chinese: 唐努乌梁海 Hanyu Pinyin: Tángnǔ Wūliánghǎi is a historical region Tyva Republic (Респу́блика Тыва́ Respublika Tyva, rʲɪˈspublʲɪkə tɨˈva Тыва Республика Tyva Respublika) or Tuva
Since the ROC lost its United Nations seat in 1971 (replaced by the PRC), most sovereign states have switched their diplomatic recognition to the PRC, recognizing or acknowledging the PRC to be the sole legitimate representative of all China. China's seat in the United Nations and membership of the United Nations Security Council has been occupied by the People's Republic of China (PRC since October United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 25 October 1971 recognized the representatives of the People's Republic of China (PRC as "the only As of January 2008, the ROC maintains official diplomatic relations with 23 sovereign states,[1] although de facto relations are maintained with nearly all others. Agencies such as the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office and American Institute in Taiwan operate as de facto embassies without official diplomatic status. A Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office ( TECRO) sometimes known as a Taipei Economic and Cultural Office ( TECO) or a Taipei Representative The American Institute in Taiwan ( AIT) serves as the representative office of the United States in Taiwan.
The ROC government has in the past considered itself to be the sole legitimate government over China, as well as its former territories. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National This position started to be largely ignored in the early 1990s, changing to one that does not challenge the legitimacy of PRC rule over mainland China. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 However, the ROC's claims have never been renounced through a constitutional amendment; both the PRC and the ROC carry out cross-strait relations through specialized agencies (such as the Mainland Affairs Council of the ROC), rather than through foreign ministries. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC ( Traditional chinese: 大陸委員會 Simplified chinese: 大陆委员会 Hanyu pinyin: Dàlù Wěiyuánhuì}} is Different groups have different concepts of what the current formal political situation of Taiwan is. (See also: Chinese reunification, Taiwan independence, and Cross-Strait relations)
In addition, the situation can be confusing because of the different parties and the effort by many groups to deal with the controversy through a policy of deliberate ambiguity. There is also a specific Chinese reunification of 1928. Chinese reunification ( is a goal of Chinese nationalism that refers to Taiwan independence ( Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tâi-oân To̍k-li̍p ūn-tōng abbreviated to 台獨 Táidú Tâi-to̍k is a History Before 1949 See also A policy of deliberate ambiguity (also known as a policy of strategic ambiguity) is the practice by a nation of being intentionally ambiguous on certain aspects of its Foreign The political solution that is accepted by many of the current groups is the following perspective of the status quo: that is, to unofficially treat Taiwan as a state and at a minimum, to officially declare no support for the government of this state making a formal declaration of independence. Status quo is a Latin term meaning the present existing state of affairs or "the state in which" What a formal declaration of independence would consist of is not clear and can be confusing given the fact that the People's Republic of China has never controlled Taiwan since its founding and the fact that the Republic of China, whose government controls Taiwan, considers itself a de jure sovereign state. The status quo is accepted in large part because it does not define the legal status or future status of Taiwan, leaving each group to interpret the situation in a way that is politically acceptable to its members. At the same time, a policy of status quo has been criticized as being dangerous precisely because different sides have different interpretations of what the status quo is, leading to the possibility of war through brinkmanship or miscalculation. Brinkmanship is the practice of pushing a dangerous situation to the verge of disaster in order to achieve the most advantageous outcome
Background
Some claim that the Kingdom of Tungning, lasting from 1661 to 1683, was the first Han Chinese government to rule Taiwan. This article discusses the history of Taiwan (including the Pescadores) The Kingdom of Tungning was the first Han Chinese Government to rule Taiwan, between 1661 and 1683 Han Chinese ( are an Ethnic group native to China and by most modern definitions the largest single Ethnic group in the world. For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. From 1683, the Qing Dynasty ruled Taiwan as a prefecture and in 1875 divided the island into two prefectures. Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. For subsequent types of praefectura, see Prefect. Prefecture (from the Latin Praefectura) indicates the office In 1887 the island was made into a separate Chinese province to speed up development in this region. A province, in the context of China, is a translation of sheng ( which is an administrative division In the aftermath of the First Sino-Japanese War, Taiwan and the Pescadores were ceded by the Qing Dynasty to Japan in 1895. The First Sino-Japanese War ( 日清戦争 Romaji: Nisshin Sensō ( 1 August 1894 – 17 April 1895) was a war fought between The Pescadores ( from Portuguese, "fishermen" pron pɨʃ For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Japanese troops in Taiwan surrendered to the Republic of China at end of World War II, putting Taiwan under a Chinese government again after 50 years of Japanese rule. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including This article discusses the history of Taiwan (including the Pescadores) The ROC would then claim sovereignty on the basis of the Qing dynasty's administration, Cairo Declaration, Potsdam Declaration, and Japanese Instrument of Surrender, but this became contested by pro-independence groups in subsequent years due to different perceptions of the said documents' legality. The Cairo Declaration was a result from Cairo Conference at Cairo, Egypt, on November 27, 1943. The Potsdam Declaration or the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender was a statement issued on July 26, 1945 by President of the The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was the written agreement that established the Armistice ending the Pacific War and with it World War II. Upon losing the Chinese civil war in 1949, the ROC government retreated to Taipei, and kept control over a few islands along the coast of mainland China and in the South China Sea. Mainland China, Continental China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term synonymous with the area that is under the jurisdiction The South China Sea is a Marginal sea south of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the The People's Republic of China (PRC) was established on the mainland on October 1, 1949, claiming to be the successor to the ROC. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Succession of states is a theory in International relations regarding the recognition and acceptance of a newly created State by other states based on
Quemoy, Matsu and Wuchiu on the coast of Fukien, and Taiping and Pratas in the South China Sea, are part of the ROC's present territory, but were not ceded to Japan. Kinmen, ( Traditional Chinese: 金門 Simplified Chinese: 金门 Hanyu Pinyin: Jīnmén Tongyong Pinyin: Jinmén Wades-Giles The Matsu Islands (also Mazu Islands ( are a minor Archipelago of 19 Islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait administered as Lienchiang Wuchiu is a group of islands comprising two major islands namely Greater Chiu Islet and Smaller Chiu Islet in the Taiwan Strait. This article is about the People's Republic of China province Itu Aba Island or Taiping Island (Ligaw/Ligao; Đảo Ba Bình is the largest of the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands in the South China Sea. The Pratas Islands or Dongsha Islands ( consists of three islands located in northeastern South China Sea, 340 km southeast of Hong Kong. The South China Sea is a Marginal sea south of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the Some arguments supporting the independence of Taiwan do not apply to these islands.
Question of sovereignty over Taiwan
Cession, retrocession and self-determination of Taiwan
The PRC (founded October 1, 1949) denies that claim arguing that the Treaty of Shimonoseki was invalid as one of several unequal treaties forced upon the Qing. The Treaty of Shimonoseki ( Japanese: 下関条約 "Shimonoseki Jōyaku") known as the Treaty of Maguan ( in China was signed at Unequal Treaties is a term used in reference to the type of Treaties signed by several East Asian states including Qing Dynasty China, late
China, during the Qing Dynasty, ceded the island of Taiwan, including the Pescadores (Penghu), to Japan "in perpetuity" at the end of the First Sino-Japanese War by signing the Treaty of Shimonoseki. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China The Pescadores ( from Portuguese, "fishermen" pron pɨʃ For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The First Sino-Japanese War ( 日清戦争 Romaji: Nisshin Sensō ( 1 August 1894 – 17 April 1895) was a war fought between The Treaty of Shimonoseki ( Japanese: 下関条約 "Shimonoseki Jōyaku") known as the Treaty of Maguan ( in China was signed at In the Cairo Conference of 1943, the allied powers agreed to have Japan restore "all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese", specifically listing "Formosa" and the Pescadores, to the Republic of China upon Japan's surrender. The Cairo Conference (codenamed "SEXTANT" of November 22 - 26 November 1943 held in Cairo, Egypt, addressed the Allied Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. According to both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China, this agreement was given legal force by the Instrument of Surrender of Japan in 1945. The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was the written agreement that established the Armistice ending the Pacific War and with it World War II. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The PRC's UN Ambassador, Wang Yingfan (Chinese 王英凡), has stated multiple times in the UN general committee: "Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s territory since antiquity" and "both the 1943 Cairo Declaration and the 1945 Potsdam Declaration have reaffirmed in unequivocal terms China’s sovereignty over Taiwan as a matter of international law. The Cairo Declaration was a result from Cairo Conference at Cairo, Egypt, on November 27, 1943. The Potsdam Declaration or the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender was a statement issued on July 26, 1945 by President of the " The PRC rejects arguments involving the lack of a specific treaty (San Francisco Peace Treaty) transferring Taiwan's sovereignty to China by noting that it was not a signatory to any such treaty, making the treaties irrelevant with regard to Chinese claims. The ROC argues that the Treaty of Taipei implicitly transferred sovereignty of Taiwan to it.
On the other hand, a number of supporters of Taiwan independence argue that Taiwan was only formally incorporated as a Chinese territory under the Qing Dynasty in 1683, and as a province in 1885. Taiwan independence ( Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tâi-oân To̍k-li̍p ūn-tōng abbreviated to 台獨 Táidú Tâi-to̍k is a Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China Subsequently, because of the Shimonoseki Treaty of 1895, Taiwan had been de jure part of Japan when the ROC was established in 1912 and thus was not part of the Chinese republic. Also, because the Cairo Declaration was an unsigned press communiqué, the independence advocates argue that the legal effectiveness of the Declaration is highly questionable. The Cairo Conference (codenamed "SEXTANT" of November 22 - 26 November 1943 held in Cairo, Egypt, addressed the Allied Furthermore, they point out that the Instrument of Surrender of Japan was no more than an armistice, a "modus vivendi" in nature, which served as a temporary or provisional agreement that would be replaced with a peace treaty. An armistice is a situation where the warring parties agree to stop fighting Modus vivendi is a Latin phrase which means an agreement between those who agree to differ ( Agree to disagree) A peace treaty is an agreement between two hostile parties usually countries or governments that formally ends an armed conflict Therefore, only a military occupation of Taiwan began on Oct. 25, 1945, and both the Treaty of San Francisco and Treaty of Taipei hold legal supremacy over the surrender instrument. Attending countries Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty ( Japanese: 日華平和条約 Chinese: 中日和平條約 commonly known as the Treaty of Taipei (台北和約 as it was These treaties did not transfer the title of Taiwan from Japan to China. According to this argument, the sovereignty of Taiwan was returned to the people of Taiwan when Japan renounced sovereignty of Taiwan in the San Francisco Peace Treaty (SFPT) in 1951, based on the policy of self-determination which has been applied to "territories which detached from enemy states as a result of the Second World War" as defined by article 76b and 77b of the United Nations Charter and also by the protocol of the Yalta Conference. Self-determination is defined as free choice of one’s own acts without external compulsion and especially as the freedom of the people of a given Territory to determine their The United Nations Charter is the Treaty that forms and establishes the International organization called the United Nations. The Yalta Conference, sometimes called the Crimea Conference and Codenamed the Argonaut Conference, was the wartime meeting from 4 February
Although the interpretation of the peace treaties was used to challenge the legitimacy of the ROC on Taiwan before the 1990s, the introduction of popular elections in Taiwan has compromised this position. Except for the most extreme Taiwan independence supporters, most Taiwanese support the popular sovereignty theory and no longer see much conflict between this theory of sovereignty and the ROC position. Popular sovereignty or the sovereignty of the people is the belief that the legitimacy of the State is created by the will or consent of its people, who In this sense, the ROC government currently administering Taiwan is not the same ROC which accepted Japanese surrender because the ruling authorities were given popular mandate by different pools of constituencies: one is the mainland Chinese electorate, the other is the Taiwanese constituencies. In fact, former president Chen Shui-bian has been frequently emphasizing the popular sovereignty theory in his speeches. Chen Shui-bian ( born October 12, 1950) is a Taiwanese politician and former President of the Republic of China.
However, as of 2007, the conflict between these two theories still plays a role in internal Taiwanese politics. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The popular sovereignty theory, which the pan-green coalition emphasizes, suggests that Taiwan could make fundamental constitutional changes by means of a popular referendum. The Pan-Green Coalition ( or Pan-Green Camp, is currently an informal Political alliance in the Republic of China (Taiwan consisting of the The ROC legal theory, which is supported by the pan-blue coalition, suggests that any fundamental constitutional changes would require that the amendment procedure of the ROC constitution be followed. The Pan-Blue Coalition ( or Pan-Blue Force ( is a Political alliance in the Republic of China (Taiwan consisting of the Kuomintang
Position of the People's Republic of China (PRC)
The position of the PRC is that the ROC ceased to be a legitimate government upon the founding of the former on October 1, 1949 and that the PRC is the successor of the ROC as the sole legitimate government of China, with the right to rule Taiwan under the succession of states theory. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Succession of states is a theory in International relations regarding the recognition and acceptance of a newly created State by other states based on [2] Whether the ROC, on the other hand, still has the legitimacy to retake the mainland is not widely accepted, but disputed.
The ROC argues that it maintains all the characteristics of a state and that it was not "replaced" or "succeeded" by the PRC because it has continued to exist long after the PRC's founding. According to the Montevideo Convention of 1933, the most cited source for the definition of statehood, a state must possess a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. The Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States was a treaty (which was later accepted as part of customary international law signed at Montevideo, Uruguay Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The ROC claims to meet all these criteria as it possesses a sovereign government exercising effective jurisdiction over well-defined territories with over 23 million permanent residents and a full fledged foreign ministry.
The Unification supporters in Mainland China argue that the ROC and PRC are two different factions in the Chinese Civil War, which never legally ended. Therefore both factions belong to the same sovereign country—China. Since Taiwan's sovereignty belongs to China, the secession of Taiwan should be agreed upon by 1. 3 billion Chinese citizens instead of the 23 million ROC citizens who currently live on the Taiwan. Furthermore, they interpret UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, which states "Recognizing that the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations", to mean that the PRC is granted the sovereignty of all of China, including Taiwan. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 25 October 1971 recognized the representatives of the People's Republic of China (PRC as "the only (The actual Resolution, however, does not specifically mention Taiwan and to whom its sovereignty belongs. ) Therefore, the PRC believes that it is within their legal rights to extend its jurisdiction to Taiwan, by military means if necessary.
In addition, the PRC argues that the ROC does not meet the fourth criterion of the Montevideo Convention, as it is recognized by only 23 (relatively small and poor) countries and has been denied access to international organizations such as the UN. The ROC counters that the pressure the PRC exerts[2] prevents the ROC from being widely recognized and that Article 3 of the same Montevideo Convention specifically says, "The political existence of the state is independent of recognition by other states. " This was accomplished because the PRC took many coercive steps to isolate the ROC diplomatically. Nevertheless, the Unification supporters point out the fact that the Montevideo Convention was only signed by 19 states at the Seventh International Conference of American States. The Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States was a treaty (which was later accepted as part of customary international law signed at Montevideo, Uruguay Thus the authority of the United Nations as well as UN Resolutions should supersede the Montevideo Convention. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States was a treaty (which was later accepted as part of customary international law signed at Montevideo, Uruguay
The current position of the People's Republic of China is that "the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China". Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES This view is rejected by Taiwan's Republic of China government which holds the view that both PRC and ROC are two separate and sovereign Chinese governments that split during the Chinese civil war[2]. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. The PRC government is unwilling to negotiate with the Republic of China (Taiwan) under any formulation other than under a One-China policy, although flexibility in terms of defining that "one China" such as found in the 1992 consensus is allowed. REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. The One-China policy ( is a principle that there is one China and that Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are all part of The 1992 Consensus or Consensus of 1992 ( is a term describing the outcome of a meeting in 1992 between the representatives of the People's Republic of China in This has made Taiwan-China negotiations difficult, since the PRC refuses to meet with high-level publicly-elected Taiwanese officials. The PRC government considers perceived violations of its One-China policy, or inconsistencies such as supplying the ROC with arms, a violation of its rights to territorial integrity. Territorial integrity is the principle under International law that nation-states should not attempt to promote Secessionist movements or to promote Border [3] International news organizations often report that "China considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be united with the mainland by force if necessary", even though the PRC does not explicitly say that Taiwan is a renegade province. However, official PRC media outlets and officials often refer to Taiwan as "China's Taiwan Province". History In 1683 following a naval engagement with Admiral Shi Lang, Koxinga 's (Cheng Ch'eng Kung grandson Zheng Keshuang and ruler of Taiwan (The PRC claims Quemoy, Wuchiu and Matsu as part of its Fujian Province, and the South China Sea Islands part of its Guangdong and Hainan provinces. Kinmen, ( Traditional Chinese: 金門 Simplified Chinese: 金门 Hanyu Pinyin: Jīnmén Tongyong Pinyin: Jinmén Wades-Giles Wuchiu is a group of islands comprising two major islands namely Greater Chiu Islet and Smaller Chiu Islet in the Taiwan Strait. The Matsu Islands (also Mazu Islands ( are a minor Archipelago of 19 Islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait administered as Lienchiang This article is about the People's Republic of China province Guangdong ( EFEO: Kouangtong; Pinyin Guǎngdōng; Postal map spelling: Kwangtung) is a province on the Hainan ( POJ: Hai-lam Pinyin:, Jyutping: hoi2 naam4 literal meaning "South of the Sea" is the smallest province of the People's )
Position of the Republic of China (ROC)
Until the mid-90s, the position of the Republic of China had been that it was a de jure sovereign state. REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES "Republic of China," according to the Taiwanese government's definition, extended to both the mainland and the island of Taiwan. [4]
Until 1991, when President Lee Teng-hui claimed that the government would no longer challenge the rule of the Communists on the mainland, the ROC government under Kuomintang rule actively maintained that it was the sole legitimate government of China. The President of the Republic of China ( is the Head of state of the Republic of China (ROC (commonly known as Taiwan since the 1970s Lee Teng-hui ( POJ: Lí Teng-hui born 15 January 1923 is a Politician of Taiwan. The Courts in Taiwan have never accepted President Lee's statement, primarily due to the reason that the (now defunct) National Assembly never officially changed the national borders. The National Assembly of the Republic of China ( refers to several Parliamentary bodies that existed in the History of the Republic of China. Notably, the People's Republic of China claims that changing the national borders would be "a precursor to Taiwan independence". Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The task of changing the national borders now requires a constitutional amendment passed by the Legislative Yuan and ratified by an absolute majority of all eligible ROC voters, which the PRC has implied would constitute grounds for military attack. The Legislative Yuan ( is the Legislative body of the Republic of China (ROC which administers Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and
On the other hand, though the constitution of the Republic of China promulgated in 1946 does not state exactly what territory it includes, the draft of the constitution of 1925 did individually list the provinces of the Republic of China and Taiwan was not among them, since Taiwan was de jure part of Japan as the result of the Treaty of Shimonoseki of 1895. The Constitution of the Republic of China ( Tongyong Pinyin: JhongHuá MínGuó SiànFǎ is the basic governing document for the Republic of China (ROC with jurisdiction REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. The Treaty of Shimonoseki ( Japanese: 下関条約 "Shimonoseki Jōyaku") known as the Treaty of Maguan ( in China was signed at The constitution also stipulated in Article I. 4, that "the territory of the ROC is the original territory governed by it; unless authorized by the National Assembly, it cannot be altered. The National Assembly of the Republic of China ( refers to several Parliamentary bodies that existed in the History of the Republic of China. " However, in 1946, Sun Fo, son of Sun Yat-Sen and the minister of the Executive Yuan of the ROC, reported to the National Assembly that "there are two types of territory changes: 1. Sun Fo or Sun Ke ( Chinese: 孫科 Pinyin: Sūn Kē October 21, 1891 &ndash September 13, 1973) was a high-ranking Sun Yat-sen ( November 12, 1866 &ndash March 12, 1925) was a Chinese Revolutionary and political leader often The Executive Yuan ( literally "Executive court" is the Executive branch of the Government of the Republic of China. renouncing territory and 2. annexing new territory. The first example would be the independence of Mongolia, and the second example would be the reclamation of Taiwan. Mongolia (mɒŋˈɡoʊliə, literally Mongol country/nation,) is a Landlocked Country in East Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. Both would be examples of territory changes. " Japan renounced all rights to Taiwan in the Treaty of San Francisco in 1951 and the Treaty of Taipei of 1952 without an explicit recipient. Attending countries Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty ( Japanese: 日華平和条約 Chinese: 中日和平條約 commonly known as the Treaty of Taipei (台北和約 as it was While the ROC continuously ruled Taiwan after the government was directed to Taiwan by the General Order No. 1 to receive Japanese surrender, there has never been a meeting of the ROC National Assembly in making a territory change according to the ROC constitution, though the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China have mentioned Taiwan "Province. " Thus, many pro-Independence advocates point out that the ROC constitution in fact denies its own legality governing Taiwan.
The now defunct National Assembly passed constitutional amendments that give the people of the "Free Area of the Republic of China", comprising the territories it controls, the sole right to exercise the sovereignty of the Republic through elections[4][5] of the President and the entire Legislature as well as through elections to ratify amendments to the ROC constitution. The " Free Area of the Republic of China " ( is a Legal and Political description referring to the territories of the Republic of China under Also, Chapter I, Article 2 of the ROC constitution states that "The sovereignty of the Republic of China shall reside in the whole body of citizens. " For some, this suggests that the constitution implicitly admits that the sovereignty of the ROC is limited to the areas that it controls even if there is no constitutional amendment that explicitly spells out the ROC's borders.
In 1999, Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui proposed a two-state theory (兩國論) in which both the Republic of China (ROC) and the People's Republic of China (PRC) would acknowledge that they are two separate countries with a special diplomatic, cultural and historic relationship, and gained immense support within Taiwan. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Lee Teng-hui ( POJ: Lí Teng-hui born 15 January 1923 is a Politician of Taiwan. In an interview with the German press Deutsche Welle in 1999 Lee Teng-hui, the President of the Republic of China on Taiwan, stated that “Since the REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES [6][7] This however drew an angry reaction from the PRC who believed that Lee was covertly supporting Taiwan independence. Taiwan independence ( Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tâi-oân To̍k-li̍p ūn-tōng abbreviated to 台獨 Táidú Tâi-to̍k is a [8]
President Chen Shui-bian, fully supports the idea that the "Republic of China is an independent, sovereign country" but holds the view that "Taiwan is the Republic of China" and not the People's Republic of China. President is a Title leaders of Organizations companies, Trade unions universities, and countries. Chen Shui-bian ( born October 12, 1950) is a Taiwanese politician and former President of the Republic of China. REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES This is suggested in his Four-stage Theory of the Republic of China. The Four-Stage Theory of the Republic of China (Taiwan or the Theory of the Four Stages of the Republic of China (Taiwan ( is a controversial viewpoint proposed Due to the necessity of avoiding war with the PRC however, President Chen has refrained from formally declaring Taiwan's independence. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Government publications have implied that Taiwan refers to the ROC, and "China" refers to the PRC. [4] President Chen has repeatedly refused to endorse the One China Principle the PRC demands as a precursor to negotiations. The One-China policy ( is a principle that there is one China and that Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are all part of There have been thus far unsuccessful attempts to restart semi-formal negotiations through formulations that refer to the 1992 consensus or the spirit of 1992. The 1992 Consensus or Consensus of 1992 ( is a term describing the outcome of a meeting in 1992 between the representatives of the People's Republic of China in Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) After becoming chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party in July 2002, Chen appeared to move toward a two states theory and in early August 2002, he stated that Taiwan may "go on its own Taiwanese road" and that "it is clear that the two sides of the straits are separate countries. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP ( Taiwanese: Bîn-chú-chìn-pō͘-tóng Traditional Chinese: zh-Hant 民主進步黨 Simplified Chinese: zh-Hans See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. " These statements were strongly criticized by opposition parties in Taiwan.
The position of most supporters of Taiwan independence is that the PRC is the government of mainland China, that Taiwan is not part of China, and the Republic of China (Taiwan) is the independent, autonomous government of Taiwan. Taiwan independence ( Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tâi-oân To̍k-li̍p ūn-tōng abbreviated to 台獨 Táidú Tâi-to̍k is a The Democratic Progressive Party states that Taiwan has never been under the jurisdiction of the PRC, and that the PRC does not exercise any hold over the 23 million Taiwanese on the island.
Traditionally, reunification had more support among "mainlanders" (the descendants of those who fled the mainland after the civil war), while support for independence was rooted in the "Taiwanese" majority "ethnic" group (those who have lived on the island since before the civil war). However, both groups have begun to lean more towards independence due to growing military threats from China, who in 1996 fired missiles into the Taiwan Strait in an attempt to disrupt the presidential elections, and who currently has 900+ missiles pointed at Taiwan. Conversely to China's intention, some scholars have posited that China's threat of war has actually caused ideas of a distinct Taiwanese nationality and solidarity to grow stronger.
China has pledged to provide economical benefits and support for Taiwan following the examples of the reunified Hong Kong and Macao if Taiwan chooses to unify itself with the PRC.
Position of other countries and international organizations
Because of anti-communist sentiment at the start of the Cold War, the Republic of China was initially recognized as the sole legitimate government of China by the United Nations and most Western nations. The Republic of China (ROC, whose jurisdiction is now constituted by the islands of Taiwan, Pescadores, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands and some other Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security On January 9, 1950, the Israeli government extended recognition to the People's Republic of China. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 505, passed on February 1, 1952 considered the Chinese communists to be rebels against the Republic of China. The UN General Assembly Resolution 505 is titled Threats to the political independence and territorial integrity of China and to the peace of the Far East Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. However, the 1970s saw a switch in diplomatic recognitions from the ROC to the PRC. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. On 25 October 1971, Resolution 2758 was passed by the UN General Assembly, which in effect expelled the Republic of China and placed the People's Republic of China on the Security Council seat as well in all other UN organizations. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 25 October 1971 recognized the representatives of the People's Republic of China (PRC as "the only Membership For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly see General Assembly members China's seat in the United Nations and membership of the United Nations Security Council has been occupied by the People's Republic of China (PRC since October It declared "that the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations. " Multiple attempts by the Republic of China to rejoin the UN, no longer to represent all of China but just the people of the territories it governs, have not made it past committee, largely due to diplomatic maneuvering by the PRC, which claims Resolution 2758 has settled the matter. (See China and the United Nations. China's seat in the United Nations and membership of the United Nations Security Council has been occupied by the People's Republic of China (PRC since October )
The PRC refuses to maintain diplomatic relations with any nation that recognizes the ROC,[2] but does not object to nations conducting economic, cultural, and other such exchanges with Taiwan that do not imply diplomatic relation. Therefore, many nations that have diplomatic relations with Beijing maintain quasi-diplomatic offices in Taipei. For example, the United States maintains the American Institute in Taiwan. The American Institute in Taiwan ( AIT) serves as the representative office of the United States in Taiwan. Similarly, the government in Taiwan maintains quasi-diplomatic offices in most nations under various names, most commonly as the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. A Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office ( TECRO) sometimes known as a Taipei Economic and Cultural Office ( TECO) or a Taipei Representative
The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan recognize that there is one China and that the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government of China. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The One-China policy ( is a principle that there is one China and that Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are all part of However, the United States and Japan acknowledge rather than recognize the PRC position that Taiwan is part of China. In the case of Canada and the UK, bilateral written agreements state that the two respective parties take note of Beijing's position but do not use the word support. The UK government position that "the future of Taiwan be decided peacefully by the peoples of both sides of the Strait" has been stated several times. Despite the PRC claim that the United States opposes Taiwanese independence, the United States takes advantage of the subtle difference between "oppose" and "does not support". In fact, a substantial majority of the statements Washington has made says that it "does not support Taiwan independence" instead of saying that it "opposes" independence. Thus, the US currently does not take a position on the political outcome, except for one explicit condition that there be a peaceful resolution to the differences between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait is a 180-km-wide (11185-mile-wide Strait between Mainland China and Taiwan. [9] All of this ambiguity has resulted in the United States constantly walking on a diplomatic tightrope with regard to the China/Taiwan issue.
The ROC maintains formal diplomatic relations with 23 countries, mostly in Central America and Africa. Interestingly, the Holy See also recognizes the ROC, a largely non-Christian/Catholic state, mainly to protest what it sees as the PRC's suppression of the Catholic faith in mainland China. The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, commonly known as the Pope, and is the preeminent Episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". The Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association ( Chinese: 中国天主教爱国会 Pinyin: Zhōngguó Tiānzhǔjiào Àiguó Huì) abbreviated However, Vatican diplomats were engaged in talks with PRC politicians at the time of Pope John Paul II's death, with a view towards improving relations between the two countries. Vatican City, officially the State of the Vatican City (Stato della Città del Vaticano is a Landlocked sovereign City-state whose territory History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and Pope When asked, one Vatican diplomat suggested that relations with Taiwan might prove "expendable" should China be willing to engage in positive diplomatic relations with the Holy See. [10] Under Pope Benedict XVI the Vatican and China have shown greater interest in establishing ties, including the appointment of pro-Vatican bishops and the Pope canceling a planned visit from the Dalai Lama. Pope Benedict XVI ( Latin: Benedictus PP XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI; born Joseph Alois Ratzinger The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people according to Tibetan Buddhism. [11]
During the 1990s, there was a diplomatic tug of war in which the PRC and ROC attempted to outbid each other to obtain the diplomatic support of small nations. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 This struggle seems to have slowed as a result of the PRC's growing economic power and doubts in Taiwan as to whether this aid was actually in the Republic of China's interest. In March 2004, Dominica switched recognition to the PRC in exchange for a large aid package. March 2004: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September The Commonwealth of Dominica, commonly known as Dominica, is an Island nation in the Caribbean Sea. [12] However, in late 2004, Vanuatu briefly switched recognition from Beijing to Taipei,[13] leading to the ousting of its Prime Minister and a return to its recognition of Beijing. Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu ( French: République de Vanuatu, Bislama: Ripablik blong Vanuatu) is an Island [14] On January 20, 2005, Grenada switched its recognition from Taipei to Beijing, in return for millions in aid (US$1,500 for every Grenadian). Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. [15]. However, on May 14, 2005, Nauru announced the restoration of formal diplomatic relations with Taipei after a three-year hiatus, during which it briefly recognized the People's Republic of China. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Nauru, officially the Republic of Nauru, is an Island nation in the Micronesian South Pacific. [16]
On October 26, 2005, Senegal broke off relations with the Republic of China and established diplomatic contacts with Beijing. Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Senegal (le Sénégal officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country south of the Sénégal River in western Africa. [17] The following year, on August 5, 2006, Taipei ended relations with Chad when Chad established relations with Beijing. Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Chad (Tchad تشاد Tshād) officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a Landlocked country in Central Africa. [18] On April 26, 2007, however, Saint Lucia, which had previously severed ties with Taiwan following a change of government in December 1996, announced the restoration of formal diplomatic relations with Taipei. Events 1467 - The miraculous image in Our Lady of Good Counsel appear in Genazzano, Italy. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Saint Lucia (ˌseɪnt ˈluːʃɪə is an Island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. [19] On June 7, 2007, Costa Rica broke off diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of the mainland. Events 1099 - The First Crusade: The Siege of Jerusalem begins Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( Spanish: Costa Rica or República de Costa Rica,) is a Country in [20] In January 2008 Malawi's foreign minister reported Malawi decided to cut diplomatic recognition of the Republic of China and recognize the People's Republic of China. [21]
Currently, the countries who maintain formal diplomatic relations with the ROC include:
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Under continuing pressure from the PRC to bar any representation of the ROC that may imply statehood, international organizations have adopted different policies toward the issue of Taiwan's participation. Belize (bəˈliːz formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Burkina Faso (bɚˌkiːnəˈfɑːsoʊ burr-KEE-na FAH-soh) also known by its short-form name Burkina, is a Landlocked nation in West Africa The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with El Salvador ( República de El Salvador,) is a country in Central America. Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America. Kiribati or ( kirr-i-bas or KEE-ree-buhss ˈkiɾibas in Gilbertese) officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an Island nation located in The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI is a Micronesian nation of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean Nauru, officially the Republic of Nauru, is an Island nation in the Micronesian South Pacific. Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America Palau, officially the Republic of Palau (Beluu er a Belau is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, some 500 miles (800 km) east Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay ( Spanish: República del Paraguay; Guaraní: Tetã Paraguái) is one of the only The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis (also known as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis) located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island Saint Lucia (ˌseɪnt ˈluːʃɪə is an Island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles chain of the Caribbean Sea. São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is an Island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands The Kingdom of Swaziland is a country located in Southern Africa centred at approximately 26o49'S 31o38'E Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian Island nation located in the Pacific Ocean midway between Hawaii and Vatican City, officially the State of the Vatican City (Stato della Città del Vaticano is a Landlocked sovereign City-state whose territory The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, commonly known as the Pope, and is the preeminent Episcopal see of the Roman Catholic In cases where almost all UN members or sovereign states participate, such as the World Health Organization[22])the ROC has been completely shut out, while in others, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) the ROC participates under unusual names: "Chinese Taipei" in the case of APEC and the IOC, and the "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kimmen and Matsu" (often shortened as "Chinese Taipei") in the case of the WTO. Chinese Taipei is the designated name used by the Republic of China (ROC, commonly known as Taiwan, to participate in some International The issue of Taiwan's name came under scrutiny during the 2006 World Baseball Classic. The organizers of the 16-team tournament intended to call Taiwan as such, but reverted to "Chinese Taipei" under pressure from China. The Taiwanese protested the decision, claiming that the WBC is not an IOC event, but did not prevail. [23] The ISO 3166 directory of names of countries and territories registers Taiwan (TW) separately from and in addition to the People's Republic of China (CN), but lists Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China" based on the name used by the UN under PRC pressure. ISO 3166 is a three-part Geographic coding standard for coding the names of countries and Dependent areas and the principal subdivisions In ISO 3166-2:CN, Taiwan is also coded CN-71 under China, thus making Taiwan part of China in ISO 3166-1 and ISO 3166-2 categories. ISO 3166-2CN is an ISO standard which defines Geocodes it is the subset of ISO 3166-2 which applies tothe People's Republic of China. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below --> ISO 3166-1, as part of the ISO 3166 standard ISO 3166-2 is the second part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO
Naming issues surrounding Taiwan/ROC continue to be a contentious issue in non-governmental organizations such as the Lions Club, which faced considerable controversy naming its Taiwanese branch. Lions Clubs International (LCI is the world's largest Secular service organization with over 44500 clubs and more than 1 [24]
Controversies
Many political leaders who have maintained some form of One-China Policy have committed slips of the tongue in referring to Taiwan as a country or as the Republic of China. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES United States presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush have been known to have referred to Taiwan as a country during their terms of office. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. Although near the end of his term as U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that Taiwan is not a state, he referred to Taiwan as the Republic of China twice during a testimony to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 9, 2001. The United States Secretary of State (commonly abbreviated as SecState) is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with Foreign affairs Colin Luther Powell, KCB (Honorary MSC, (born April 5, 1937) is a retired General in the United States Army. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. [25] In the People's Republic of China Premier Zhu Rongji's farewell speech to the National People's Congress, Zhu accidentally referred to Mainland China and Taiwan as two countries. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Zhū Róngjī (born 1 October 1928) is a prominent Chinese politician who served as the Mayor and Party chief in Shanghai between 1987 and 1991 before serving as Vice-Premier A similar term is "National Congress" which is a less common translation of People's Political Consultative Conference. Mainland China, Continental China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term synonymous with the area that is under the jurisdiction Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. [26] There are also those from the PRC who informally refer to Taiwan as a country. [27] South Africa delegates once referred to Taiwan as the "Republic of Taiwan" during Lee Teng-hui's term as President of the ROC. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The Republic of Taiwan ( Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tâi-oân Kiōng-hô-kok) is a goal of supporters of Taiwan independence in creating a Taiwanese state unambiguously Lee Teng-hui ( POJ: Lí Teng-hui born 15 January 1923 is a Politician of Taiwan. [28] In 2002, Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York, referred to Taiwan as a country. Michael Rubens Bloomberg (born February 14, 1942) is an American businessman and the Mayor of New York City. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous [29] Most recently, former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stated in a local Chinese newspaper in California in July 2005 that Taiwan is "a sovereign nation". The United States Secretary of Defense ( SECDEF) is the head of the U Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9 1932 is a United States Businessman, Politician, the 13th Secretary of Defense under President The People's Republic of China discovered the statement about three months after it was made. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES
In a controversial speech on February 4, 2006, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso called Taiwan a country with very high education levels because of previous Japanese colonial rule over the island. The of Japan is the Cabinet member responsible for Japanese foreign policy and the chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. is the current Prime Minister of Japan, having taken office on September 24, 2008. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. The Japanese colonial period, Japanese rule or the Imperial Japanese occupation, in the context of Taiwan 's history refers to the period between [30] One month later, he told a Japanese parliamentary committee that "[Taiwan's] democracy is considerably matured and liberal economics is deeply ingrained, so it is a law-abiding country. Economic liberalism is the Economic component of Classical liberalism. In various ways, it is a country that shares a sense of values with Japan. " At the same time, he admitted that "I know there will be a problem with calling [Taiwan] a country". [31] Later, the Japanese Foreign Ministry tried to downplay or reinterpret his remarks. The is a Japanese government ministry The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the Cabinet member in charge
In February 2007, the Royal Grenada Police Band played Taiwan's national anthem in an inauguration of the reconstructed St George's Queen's Park Stadium funded by the PRC. February 2007 is the second month of the year It began on a Thursday and 28 days later ended on a Wednesday. Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. " National Anthem of the Republic of China " is the current National anthem of the Republic of China (ROC St George's, population 7500 ( 1999) with an agglomeration of 33000 people is the Capital of Grenada, British West Indies. Grenada had broken off diplomatic relationship with Taiwan just two years prior in favor of the PRC. [1]
When the Kuomintang visited Mainland China in 2005, the government-controlled Chinese media called this event a "visit," and called the KMT one of "Taiwan's political parties" even though the Kuomintang's full name remains the "Chinese Nationalist Party. Mainland China, Continental China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term synonymous with the area that is under the jurisdiction " Interestingly in Mainland China, there is a legal party called the Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang that is officially one of the nine "consultative parties," according to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang ( abbreviated 民革 is one of eight registered minor political parties (in addition to the Communist Party of China
The Chinese government has stated that it expresses a welcoming attitude towards Taiwanese businesspeople should they choose to return to the "motherland" for business purposes, but treats Taiwanese investment as "foreign investment". This is simply out of convenience, and the Chinese government also treats investment from Hong Kong "foreign investment". Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders This can result in confusion as the PRC does not consider Hong Kong or Taiwan to be foreign nations.
Possible military solutions and intervention
Until 1979, both sides intended to resolve the conflict militarily. Intermittent clashes occurred throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with escalations comprising the First and Second Taiwan Strait crises. The First Taiwan Strait Crisis (also called the 1954-1955 Taiwan Strait Crisis or the 1955 Taiwan Strait Crisis) was a short Armed conflict that took place The Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, also called the 1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis, was a conflict that took place between the People's Republic of China (PRC In 1979, with the U. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) S. change of diplomatic recognition to the PRC, the ROC lost its ally needed to "recover the mainland. " Meanwhile, the PRC's desire to be accepted in the international community led it to promote peaceful unification under what would later be termed "one country, two systems," rather than to "liberate Taiwan" and institute socialism (in other words, to make Taiwan a Special Administrative Region). " One country two systems " is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping during the early 1980s then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution A special administrative region or SAR may be;People's Republic of China Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, present-day
PRC's condition on military intervention
Notwithstanding, the PRC government has issued triggers for an immediate war with Taiwan, most notably via its controversial Anti-Secession Law of 2005. The Anti-Secession Law ( is a Law of the People's Republic of China. These conditions are:
- if events occur leading to the separation of Taiwan from China in any name, or
- if a major event occurs which would lead to Taiwan's separation from China, or
- if all possibility of peaceful unification is lost.
It has been interpreted that these criteria encompass the scenario of Taiwan developing nuclear weapons (see main article Taiwan and weapons of mass destruction). The Republic of China denies having any Weapons of mass destruction.
Much saber-rattling by the mainland has been done over this, with Jiang Zemin, after assuming the mantle of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, becoming a leading voice. Saber-noise or saber-rattling ( Spanish: ruido de sables) refers to a historical incident in Chilean history that took place on September Jiang Zemin ( born 17 August 1926 was the "core of the third generation " of Communist Party of China leaders serving as General Secretary of
The third condition has especially caused a stir in Taiwan as the term "indefinitely" is open to interpretation. It has also been viewed by some as meaning that preserving the ambiguous status quo is not acceptable to the PRC, although the PRC stated on many occasions that there is no explicit timetable for reunification.
Concern over a formal declaration of de jure Taiwan independence is a strong impetus for the military buildup between Taiwan and mainland China. Taiwan independence ( Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tâi-oân To̍k-li̍p ūn-tōng abbreviated to 台獨 Táidú Tâi-to̍k is a Some people believe that Taiwan will attempt a declaration of independence during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Others point out that the current US administration has publicly declared that given the status quo, it would not aid Taiwan if it were to declare independence unilaterally. [32]
According to ROC President Chen Shui-bian, China has accelerated the deployment of missiles against Taiwan to 120 a year, bringing the total arsenal to 706 ballistic missiles capable of being fitted with nuclear warheads that are aimed at Taiwan. Chen Shui-bian ( born October 12, 1950) is a Taiwanese politician and former President of the Republic of China. Some believe that their deployment is a political tool on the part of the PRC to increase political pressure on Taiwan to abandon unilateral moves toward formal independence, at least for the time being, although the PRC government never declares such deployment publicly.
Balance of power
The possibility of war, the close geographical proximity of ROC-controlled Taiwan and PRC-controlled mainland China, and the resulting flare-ups that occur every few years, conspire to make this one of the most watched focal points in the Pacific. REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Both sides have chosen to have a strong naval presence. However, naval strategies between both powers greatly shifted in the 1980s and 1990s, while the ROC assumed a more defensive attitude by building and buying frigates and missile destroyers, and the PRC a more aggressive posture by developing long-range cruise missiles and supersonic Surface-to-surface missiles. For the bird see Frigatebird. A frigate /ˈfrɪgɪt/ is a warship In naval terminology a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance Warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, Convoy A cruise missile is a guided Missile that carries an explosive payload and uses a lifting wing and a propulsion system usually a Jet engine, to allow A surface-to-surface missile (also ground-to-ground missile, SSM or GTGM) is a guided projectile launched from a hand-held vehicle mounted trailer mounted
Although the People's Liberation Army Air Force is considered large, most of its fleet consists of older generationJ-7 fighters (localized MiG-21s and Mig-21BIs), raising doubts over the PLAAF's ability to control Taiwan's airspace in the event of a conflict. The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF ( is the Aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the Military of the People's Republic of WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Since mid-1990s China has been purchasing, and later localizing, SU-27 based fighters. These Russian fighters, as well as their Chinese J11A variants, are currently over 170 in number, and have increased the effectiveness of PLAAF's Beyond Visual Range (BVR) capabilities. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A Beyond Visual Range Missile usually refers to an Air-to-air missile that is capable of engaging at ranges beyond 20 Nautical The introduction of 60 new-generation J10A fighters is anticipated to increase the PLAAF's firepower. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout China's acquisition of Russian Su30MKKs further enhanced the PLAAF's air-to-ground support ability. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Ground-attack aircraft are military aircraft designed to attack targets on the ground and are often deployed as Close air support for and in proximity to their own ground forces The ROC's air force, on the other hand, relies on Taiwan's second generation fighters, consisting of 150 US-built F-16 Fighting Falcons, approximately 60 French-built Mirage 2000-5s, and approximately 130 locally developed IDFs (Indigenous Defence Fighters). Republic of China Air Force Personnel53000 WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout All of these ROC fighter jets are able to conduct BVR combat missions with BVR missiles, but the level of technology in mainland Chinese fighters is catching up. A Beyond Visual Range Missile usually refers to an Air-to-air missile that is capable of engaging at ranges beyond 20 Nautical
In 2003, the ROC purchased four missile destroyers—the former USS Kidd class, and expressed a strong interest in the Arleigh Burke class. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. History June 27, 1981: Commissioned in Pascagoula MS December 8, 1982: Deployed to the Mediterranean Sea Characteristics The Arleigh Burke class are among the largest and most powerful destroyers ever built both larger and more heavily armed than many previous cruisers But with the growth of the PRC navy and air force, some doubt that the ROC could withstand a determined invasion attempt from mainland China in the future. The People's Liberation Army Navy ( PLAN) ( Simplified Chinese: 中国人民解放军海军 Traditional Chinese: 中國人民解放軍海軍 Pinyin The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF ( is the Aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the Military of the People's Republic of These concerns have led to a view in certain quarters that Taiwanese independence, if it is to be implemented, should be attempted as early as possible, while the ROC still has the capacity to prevail in an all-out military conflict. Over the past three decades, estimates of how long Taiwan can withstand a full-scale invasion from across the Strait without any outside help have decreased from three months to only six days. [33] Given such estimates, the US Navy has continued practicing "surging" its carrier groups, giving it the experience necessary to respond quickly to an attack on Taiwan. [34] The US also collects data on the PRC's military deployments, through the use of spy satellites, for example. A spy satellite (officially referred to as a reconnaissance satellite) is an Earth observation satellite or Communications satellite deployed for It would take days, if not weeks, for China to prepare for a full assault on Taiwan.
However, numerous reports issued by the PRC, ROC and US militaries make wildly mutually contradictory statements about the possible defense of Taiwan.
Naturally, war contingencies are not being planned in a vacuum. In 1979, the United States Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, a law generally interpreted as mandating U. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses The Taiwan Relations Act is an act of the United States Congress passed in 1979 after the establishment of relations with the People's Republic of S. defense of Taiwan in the event of an attack from the Chinese Mainland (the Act is applied to Taiwan and the Pescadores, but not to Quemoy and Matsu). The United States maintains the world's largest permanent fleet in the Pacific Region near Taiwan. The Seventh Fleet, operating primarily out of various bases in Japan, is a powerful naval contingent built upon the world's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk. The Seventh Fleet is the United States Navy's permanent forward projection force based in Yokosuka, Japan, with units positioned near South Korea An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with 1961 to 1964 Following a shakedown in the Western Atlantic, Kitty Hawk departed Norfolk on 11 August 1961. Although the stated purpose of the fleet is not Taiwanese defense, it can be safely assumed from past actions that that is one of the reasons why the fleet is stationed in those waters.
Starting in 2000, Japan renewed its defense obligations with the US and embarked on a rearmament program, partly in response to fears that Taiwan might be invaded. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Some analysts believed that the PRC could launch pre-emptive strikes on military bases in Japan to deter US and Japanese forces from coming to Taiwan's aid. Japanese strategic planners also see an independent Taiwan as vital, not only because Taiwan controls valuable shipping routes, but also because its capture by China would make Japan more vulnerable. During World War II, the US invaded the Philippines, but another viable target to enable direct attacks on Japan would have been Taiwan (then known as Formosa). World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP However, critics of the pre-emptive strike theory assert that the PRC would be loath to give Japan and the US such an excuse to intervene.
A Taiwan software program simulating an attack by China reflects a win for Taiwan. [35][36]
Third Taiwan Strait Crisis
In 1996, the PRC began conducting military exercises near Taiwan, and launched several ballistic missiles over the island. The Republic of China Navy (中華民國海軍 Pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Hǎijūn is the maritime branch of the Armed forces of the Republic of China (Taiwan. French version Context In the late 1980s the Marine Nationale started the studies for frigates adapted to low-intensity conflicts in the post-Cold War era The Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, also called the 1995-1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis or the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, was the effect of a series of missile tests conducted A ballistic missile is a Missile that follows a Sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering a warhead to a predetermined target The saber-rattling was done in response to the possible re-election of then President Lee Teng-hui. Lee Teng-hui ( POJ: Lí Teng-hui born 15 January 1923 is a Politician of Taiwan. The United States, under then President Clinton, sent two aircraft carrier battle groups to the region, sailing them into the Taiwan Strait. The PRC, unable to track the ships' movements, and probably unwilling to escalate the conflict, quickly backed down. The event had little impact on the outcome of the election, since none of Lee's contestants were strong enough to defeat him, but it is widely believed that the PRC's aggressive acts, far from intimidating the Taiwanese population, gave Lee a boost that pushed his share of votes over 50 percent.
The possibility of war in the Taiwan Straits, even though quite low in the short-term, requires the PRC, ROC, and U. S. to remain wary and vigilant. The goal of the three parties at the moment seems to be, for the most part, to maintain the status quo.
Developments since 2004 and future prospects
Judicial
On October 24, 2006, Dr. Roger C. S. Lin led a group of Taiwanese residents, including members of the Taiwan Nation Party, to file a Complaint for Declaratory Relief in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The Taiwan Independence Party ( otherwise known as the Taiwan Nation Party, is a Political party in the Republic of China on Taiwan. According to their lawyer, Mr. Charles Camp, "[t]he Complaint asks the Court to declare whether the Taiwanese plaintiffs, including members of the Taiwan Nation Party, have certain rights under the United States Constitution". [37] Their central argument is that, following Japanese renunciation of all rights and claims to Taiwan, Taiwan came under U. S. jurisdiction and remains so to this day. After an extension was granted, the United States government responded with a Motion to Dismiss on January 12, 2007, mostly on the basis that the United States government has not waived its sovereign immunity, that this is a political question not suitable for a court to determine, and that the Plaintiffs failed to nominate a specific grievance for relief. Sovereign immunity, or crown immunity, is a type of immunity that in Common law Jurisdictions traces its origins from early English law In United States law, a ruling that a matter in controversy is a political question is a statement by a federal court declining to rule in a case because [38]
The Plaintiffs were scheduled to reply on or before January 29, but later also extended to February 16. The bulk of the rebuttal was concentrated on countering the defendants' 'non-justiciable political question' argument, citing the Baker/Goldwater standard. Plaintiffs next argued that they have suffered an injury-in-fact from being denied a recognized nationality, and cites several statues and the San Francisco Peace Treaty (SPFT) in which the court was given jurisdiction and the United States waived its sovereign immunity over the matter. In the last sections, the Plaintiffs argued that they have stated specific claims for relief and that the law does not require them to introduce all or any claims when filing the complaint initially. [39]
The Government was scheduled to reply by March 9, 2007, but once again an extension of two weeks was granted. Nonetheless, on March 23, the defendant's Motion to Dismiss the original complaint was denied "as moot [i]n light of the Amended Complaint filed" by the Plaintiffs on March 19. The Amended Complaint remains largely the same as the original, with minor structural changes, additional legal references, and, importantly, the inclusion of the Plaintiffs' failed attempts at applying for a U.S. passport on March 29, 2006, as a specific grievance. United States passports are issued exclusively by the US Department of State. [40]
The United States of America, however, again filed a Motion to Dismiss the Amended Complaint on April 5. The new motion specifies that America's legal relationship with Taiwan "derives solely and exclusively" from Executive Order 13014, and cites the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1954 which states that "'territories' shall mean in respect of the Republic of China, Taiwan and the Pescadores" as evidence that the United States then considered Taiwan part of the ROC. The Defendant asserted that the court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, mostly on the basis that sovereignty over a territory is a non-justiciable political question. The motion also argued that Plaintiffs' claim is not one for which relief may be granted, on the grounds that the U. S. does not hold de jure sovereignty over Taiwan, and that therefore the Plaintiffs are not U. S. nationals who, under the Immigration Nationality Act, may bring a declaratory judgement action.
Plaintiffs filed an Opposition to Motion to Dismiss on April 19 to counter these arguments, stating that their complaint has been mischaracterized. The opening arguments are that the SFPT is the 'supreme law of the land' and overrides Executive Order 13014, and that the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations specified no modification of the existing legal status of Taiwan by the Mutual Defense Treaty. Most of the motion was then devoted to arguing that this is a justiciable political case, as opposed to political questions non-justiciable under the Baker/Goldwater standard, and argued that the Court has power to determine the extent to which U. S. laws apply regardless of the Executive's position. [41]
The Plaintiffs filed 31 pages of Discovery Requests on June 26, 2007. [42]
The district court ruled March 18, 2008 that the case indeed presents a political question; as such, the court dismissed the complaint. [43]
Political
Although the situation is confusing, most observers believe that it is stable with enough understandings and gentlemen's agreements to keep things from breaking out into open warfare. A gentlemen's agreement is an informal Agreement between two or more parties The current controversy is over the term one China, as the PRC insists that the ROC must recognize this term to begin negotiations. Although the ruling Democratic Progressive Party has moderated its support for Taiwan independence, there is still insufficient support within that party for President Chen Shui-bian to agree to one China. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP ( Taiwanese: Bîn-chú-chìn-pō͘-tóng Traditional Chinese: zh-Hant 民主進步黨 Simplified Chinese: zh-Hans Taiwan independence ( Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tâi-oân To̍k-li̍p ūn-tōng abbreviated to 台獨 Táidú Tâi-to̍k is a By contrast, the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) appear willing to agree to some variation of one China, and observers believed the position of the PRC was designed to sideline Chen until the 2004 presidential election where it was hoped that someone who was more supportive of Chinese reunification would come to power. The People First Party (親民黨 Pinyin: Qīnmíndǎng is a Centre-right conservative Political party in the Republic of China The Election for the 11th-term President and Vice-President of the Republic of China (第十一任中華民國總統、副總統選舉 the third direct presidential election in Taiwan's There is also a specific Chinese reunification of 1928. Chinese reunification ( is a goal of Chinese nationalism that refers to Partly to counter this, Chen Shui-bian announced in July 2002 that if the PRC does not respond to Taiwan's goodwill, Taiwan may "go on its own . . . road. "
With Chen's re-election in 2004, Beijing's prospects for a speedier resolution were dampened, though they seemed strengthened again following the Pan-Blue majority in the 2004 legislative elections. The Election for the 6th Legislative Yuan (第六屆立法委員選舉 of the Republic of China on Taiwan was held on December 11, However, public opinion in Taiwan reacted unfavorably towards the anti-secession law passed by the PRC in March 2005. The Anti-Secession Law ( is a Law of the People's Republic of China. Following two high profile visits by KMT and PFP party leaders to the PRC, the balance of public opinion appears to be ambiguous, with the Pan-Green Coalition gaining a majority in the 2005 National Assembly elections, but the Pan-Blue Coalition scoring a landslide victory in the 2005 municipal elections. An election for the National Assembly took place in Taiwan on Saturday 2005-05-14, from 0730 to 1600 local time
Public opinion
Public opinion in Taiwan regarding relations with the PRC is notoriously difficult to gauge, as poll results tend to be extremely sensitive to how the questions are phrased and what options are given, and there is a tendency by all political parties to spin the results to support their point of view. Public relations (PR is the practice of managing the flow of Information between an Organization and its Publics Public relations - often referred
According to a November 2005 poll from the Mainland Affairs Commission, 37. 7% of people living in the ROC favor maintaining the status quo until a decision can be made in the future, 18. 4% favors maintaining the status quo indefinitely, 14% favors maintaining the status quo until eventual independence, 12% favors maintaining the status quo until eventual reunification, 10. 3% favors independence as soon as possible, and 2. 1% favors reunification as soon as possible. According to the same poll, 78. 3% are opposed to the "One Country, Two Systems" model, which was used for Hong Kong and Macau, while 10. " One country two systems " is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping during the early 1980s then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Macau topics. 4% is in favor. [44]
Changing Taiwan’s status with respect to the ROC constitution
From the perspective of the ROC constitution, which the mainstream political parties such as the KMT and DPP currently respect and recognize, changing the ROC’s governing status or completely clarifying Taiwan’s political status would at best require amending the ROC constitution. The Constitution of the Republic of China ( Tongyong Pinyin: JhongHuá MínGuó SiànFǎ is the basic governing document for the Republic of China (ROC with jurisdiction The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP ( Taiwanese: Bîn-chú-chìn-pō͘-tóng Traditional Chinese: zh-Hant 民主進步黨 Simplified Chinese: zh-Hans In other words, if reunification supporters wanted to reunify Taiwan with the mainland in such a way that would effectively abolish the ROC or affect the ROC’s sovereignty, or if independence supporters wanted to abolish the ROC and establish a Republic of Taiwan, they would also need to amend or abolish the ROC constitution and redraft a new constitution. Passing an amendment requires an unusually broad political consensus, which includes approval from three-quarters of a quorum of members of the Legislative Yuan. This quorum requires at least three-quarters of all members of the Legislature. After passing the legislature, the amendments need ratification from at least fifty percent of all eligible voters of the ROC, irrespective of voter turnout.
Given these harsh constitutional requirements, neither the pan-greens nor pan-blues can unilaterally change Taiwan’s political and legal status with respect to the ROC’s constitution. However, extreme Taiwan independence supporters view the ROC’s constitution as illegal and therefore believe that amendments to the ROC constitution are an invalid way to change Taiwan’s political status.
Note on terminology
Political status vs. Taiwan issue
Some scholarly sources as well as political entities like the PRC refer to Taiwan's controversial status as the "Taiwan question", "Taiwan issue", or "Taiwan problem" (台弯问题). The ROC government does not like these terminologies, emphasizing that it should be called the "Mainland issue" or "Mainland question", because from the ROC's point of view, the PRC is making an issue out of or creating a problem out of Taiwan. Others use the term "Taiwan Strait Question" because it implies nothing about sovereignty and because "Cross-Strait relations" is a term used by both the ROC and the PRC to describe their interactions. History Before 1949 See also However, this term is also objectionable to some because it still implies that there is an issue, which they feel is created only by the PRC.
De-facto vs. de-jure
The use of the terms de-facto and de-jure to describe Taiwan's as well as the Republic of China's status as a state is itself a contentious issue. This partially stems from the lack of precedents regarding derecognized, but still constitutionally functioning states. For instance, it is regularly argued that Taiwan satisfies the requirements of statehood at international law as stated in the Montevideo Convention. The Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States was a treaty (which was later accepted as part of customary international law signed at Montevideo, Uruguay At the same time, there is continued debate on whether UN membership or recognition as a state by the UN is a decisive feature of statehood (since it represents broad recognition by the international community); the debate arises because non-state entities can often satisfy the Montevideo Convention factors, while the list of states recognised by the UN, for the most part, correlate well with entities recognised as states by customary international law. If the latter argument is accepted, then the Republic of China may have ceased to be a state post-1971 as a matter of international law ("de jure"), yet continued to otherwise function as the state that it previously was recognised as ("de facto").
From the 1990s onwards, media wire services sometimes describe Taiwan as having de-facto independence, whereas the Republic of China has always considered itself as a continuously functioning de-jure state.
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- ^ "Good schools due to Japan: Aso", Taipei Times, February 6, 2006, pp. The Taipei Times is one of the three major English -language Newspapers in the Republic of China ( Taiwan) the other two being the Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 2.
- ^ "Japan's Aso calls Taiwan a `country'", Taipei Times, March 10, 2006, pp. The Taipei Times is one of the three major English -language Newspapers in the Republic of China ( Taiwan) the other two being the Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 1.
- ^ "Bush Opposes Taiwan Independence", Fox News, December 9, 2003, pp. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. 1.
- ^ Chang, Rich. "War simulations reveal communication problem", Taipei Times, May 1, 2006, pp. The Taipei Times is one of the three major English -language Newspapers in the Republic of China ( Taiwan) the other two being the Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 3.
- ^ Dunnigan, James (July 7, 2004). Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " US Navy Sticks it to China. Dirty Little Secrets. StragtegyPage. com. Retrieved on 2006-06-11. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes.
- ^ Fox News: Computer Simulation Has Taiwan Beating China in War, Taiwanese Military Says
- ^ Sign On San Diego
- ^ "Law Offices of Charles H_ Camp News". Retrieved on 2007-01-28. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted
- ^ US Government Response and Motion to Dismiss. Retrieved on 2007-04-23. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at
- ^ Plaintiff's Rebuttal and Opposition to Motion to Dismiss. Retrieved on 2007-04-23. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at
- ^ Plaintiff's Amended Complaint for Declaratory Relief. Retrieved on 2007-04-23. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at
- ^ Plaintiff's New Rebuttal and Opposition to Motion to Dismiss. Retrieved on 2007-04-23. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at
- ^ Plaintiff's First Set of Document Requests, Interrogatories, and Admissions. Retrieved on 2007-06-28. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul.
- ^ Civil Action No. 2006-1825 LIN et al v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Retrieved on 2008-04-16. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom
- ^ 民意調查：「民眾對當前兩岸關係之看法」結果摘要. 行政院大陸委員會. Retrieved on 2006-10-18. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid
See also
- History of the Republic of China
- Politics of the Republic of China
- Foreign relations of the Republic of China
- Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China
- 228 Incident, for historical context of ROC-Taiwanese conflict
- China and the United Nations
- Republic of China and weapons of mass destruction
- People's Republic of China and weapons of mass destruction
- Chinese reunification
- Four-stage Theory of the Republic of China
- Legal status of Taiwan
- Mainland Affairs Council of the ROC
- Military Power of the People's Republic of China
- National Unification Council of the ROC
- Taiwan Affairs Office of the PRC
- Taiwan independence
- Taiwan Province
- Claimed Taiwan Province of the People's Republic of China
Further reading
- Bush, R. This article discusses history of the state which currently governs Taiwan Area. The Politics of the Republic of China (ROC takes place in a framework of a Semi-presidential representative democratic Republic, The Republic of China (ROC, whose jurisdiction is now constituted by the islands of Taiwan, Pescadores, Kinmen, the Matsu Islands and some other The Anti-Secession Law ( is a Law of the People's Republic of China. The 228 Incident ( Pe{{unicode|̍}}h-ōe-jī: Jī-jī-pat sū-kiāⁿ also known as the 228 Massacre ( was an anti-government Anti-Chinese uprising China's seat in the United Nations and membership of the United Nations Security Council has been occupied by the People's Republic of China (PRC since October The Republic of China denies having any Weapons of mass destruction. The People's Republic of China is estimated by the US Government to have an arsenal of about 150 Nuclear weapons as of 1999, which matches There is also a specific Chinese reunification of 1928. Chinese reunification ( is a goal of Chinese nationalism that refers to The Four-Stage Theory of the Republic of China (Taiwan or the Theory of the Four Stages of the Republic of China (Taiwan ( is a controversial viewpoint proposed The Legal question of which legal entity holds De jure sovereignty over the island of Taiwan is a controversial issue The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC ( Traditional chinese: 大陸委員會 Simplified chinese: 大陆委员会 Hanyu pinyin: Dàlù Wěiyuánhuì}} is Military Power of the People's Republic of China is a publication of the United States Department of Defense that provides an estimation of the military power and The National Unification Council, established in 1990 was a governmental body of the Republic of China on Taiwan whose aim was to promote Unification with The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council ( Simplified Chinese: 国务院台湾事务办公室 Traditional chinese: 國務院台灣事務辦公室 or 國務院臺灣事務辦公室 Taiwan independence ( Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tâi-oân To̍k-li̍p ūn-tōng abbreviated to 台獨 Táidú Tâi-to̍k is a History In 1683 following a naval engagement with Admiral Shi Lang, Koxinga 's (Cheng Ch'eng Kung grandson Zheng Keshuang and ruler of Taiwan Taiwan Province of the People's Republic of China ( is a theoretical administrative Province of the People's Republic of China (PRC, covering an area over which & O'Hanlon, M. (2007). A War Like No Other: The Truth About China's Challenge to America. Wiley. ISBN 0471986771
- Bush, R. (2006). Untying the Knot: Making Peace in the Taiwan Strait. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 0815712901
- Carpenter, T. (2006). America's Coming War with China: A Collision Course over Taiwan. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1403968411
- Cole, B. (2006). Taiwan's Security: History and Prospects. Routledge. ISBN 0415365813
- Copper, J. (2006). Playing with Fire: The Looming War with China over Taiwan. Praeger Security International General Interest. ISBN 0275988880
- Federation of American Scientists et al. (2006). Chinese Nuclear Forces and U.S. Nuclear War Planning
- Gill, B. (2007). Rising Star: China's New Security Diplomacy. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 0815731469
- Shirk, S. (2007). China: Fragile Superpower: How China's Internal Politics Could Derail Its Peaceful Rise. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195306090
- Tsang, S. (2006). If China Attacks Taiwan: Military Strategy, Politics and Economics. Routledge. ISBN 0415407850
- Tucker, N. B. (2005). Dangerous Strait: the U. S. -Taiwan-China Crisis. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0231135645
External links
- The Menacing Missiles of Taiwan
- Australian White Paper on Taiwan relations
- Cross-Strait Relations between China and Taiwan collection of documents and articles.
- PRC Government White Paper: The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue
- Taiwan Documents Project
- Resolving the Political Status of Taiwan through the US Court system
- Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council
- Questions of Sovereignty -- the Montevideo Convention and Territorial Cession Comprehensive overview of Taiwan's presumed qualifying criteria for statehood under the Montevideo Convention, by Richard W. Hartzell
- Documents on the Political Status of Taiwan
- Sovereignty, Wealth, Culture, and Technology: Mainland China and Taiwan Grapple with the Parameters of the "Nation-State" in the 21st Century
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