Taiwan’s History and What It’s Called Today
Taiwan, which was once called Formosa, has a long history. Thousands of years ago, it was home to indigenous people. In the 1600s, both the Dutch and the Spanish ruled parts of it for a short time.
In 1684, Taiwan became part of the Qing dynasty (the government of China at that time). In 1885, Taiwan became a separate Chinese province. After the Qing dynasty lost a war to Japan in 1895, Taiwan became a Japanese colony. After World War II in 1945, Taiwan was handed back to the Republic of China (ROC).
However, in 1949, the ROC government was defeated by Mao Zedong’s communist forces. The ROC then moved to Taiwan, while Mao created the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland. Mao claimed that the PRC was the only legitimate government for all of China, including Taiwan.
What is Taiwan’s International Status?
For many years, Taiwan (ROC) claimed to be the real government of all of China. But in 1971, Taiwan lost its seat in the United Nations, which went to the PRC. Today, only 12 countries recognize Taiwan officially. These are mostly smaller countries like Belize and Tuvalu.
Most bigger countries, including Western nations and the US, don’t officially recognize Taiwan as a separate country. But they still have friendly relations, like allowing people to travel freely between countries and recognizing Taiwan’s passport.
Since 1979, the US stopped officially recognizing Taiwan but made a law saying it must help Taiwan defend itself. The US government also follows a “One China” policy, meaning it doesn’t take sides on whether Taiwan is independent or not.
China’s Position on Taiwan
China says that Taiwan belongs to it, and it won’t rule out using force to bring Taiwan under its control. China also suggests Taiwan could be part of China in a way similar to Hong Kong, which has a certain level of independence, but most people in Taiwan reject this idea.
Public opinion polls show that most people in Taiwan just want things to stay the way they are now, without any major changes.
Is Taiwan Already an Independent Country?
Even though not many countries officially call Taiwan independent, it acts like an independent country. Taiwan elects its own leaders, has its own military, issues passports, and uses its own currency. It enjoys what is called de facto independence—it functions as an independent country, but the world doesn’t fully recognize it as such.
Taiwan’s government says that the Republic of China is a sovereign state, and that Beijing (China) has no right to represent Taiwan.
Could Taiwan Declare Itself the ‘Republic of Taiwan’?
Changing Taiwan’s name to the Republic of Taiwan would be very hard. To do this, the government would need to make a change to its constitution, which would require parliamentary approval and a referendum (a vote from the people). Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Kuomintang (KMT) party are very divided on this issue, so it’s unlikely to happen soon.
What Does Taiwan’s President Say About Independence?
Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, has made statements that upset China. Before becoming president in 2024, he said he worked for Taiwan’s independence. But since becoming president, Lai says Taiwan is already independent. He also says that Taiwan and China are not the same country, which is something China strongly disagrees with.
Does China Have a Legal Framework to Stop Taiwan from Declaring Independence?
Yes, China passed an Anti-Secession Law in 2005. This law says China can use military force if Taiwan tries to declare itself independent. But the law is vague and doesn’t explain exactly when or how China would take action.
