Taiwan is not universally recognized as a country, but it functions as a de facto independent state.
De jure (legal) status: The Republic of China (ROC), which governs Taiwan, claims sovereignty over all of China, including the mainland. However, only 11 UN member states and the Holy See officially recognize Taiwan as a country. The United Nations recognizes the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate government of China, and Taiwan is excluded from membership.
De facto (practical) reality: Taiwan has its own democratically elected government, military, constitution, currency, legal system, and borders. It operates independently in international affairs under the name "Chinese Taipei" in organizations like APEC and the Olympics, due to diplomatic pressure from the PRC.
International stance: Most countries, including the United States, acknowledge the PRC's one-China policy, meaning they do not formally recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state. However, they maintain unofficial relations through representative offices (e.g., the American Institute in Taiwan).
Taiwan's position: The government in Taipei asserts that Taiwan is an independent country and the Republic of China, with its own sovereignty. Many residents of Taiwan identify strongly with a Taiwanese national identity, distinct from mainland China.
In summary, while Taiwan meets most criteria of a sovereign state in practice, its international recognition remains limited due to the political stance of the PRC, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory.
Factsheet
中華民國 (Chinese) Zhōnghuá Mínguó (Pinyin)
Capital Taipei
Coordinates: 25.067; 121.517
Coordinates: 25.067; 121.517
Largest city New Taipei City
中華民國 (Chinese) Zhōnghuá Mínguó (Pinyin)
Capital Taipei
Coordinates: 25.067; 121.517
Coordinates: 25.067; 121.517
Largest city New Taipei City
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Taiwan
Taiwan - Wikipedia
2 days ago - Use of the current Chinese name ... development the entire Taiwanese mainland eventually became known as "Taiwan". The official name of the country in English is the "Republic of China"....
Global Edge
globaledge.msu.edu › countries › taiwan
Taiwan: Introduction
Taiwan, a territory of the Republic of China, is an island in East Asia in the Western Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, and the Taiwan Strait.
Videos
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Taiwan and China: Everything you need to know - BBC World Service ...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/geopolitics › so is taiwan a part of china or not?
r/geopolitics on Reddit: So is Taiwan a part of China or not?
February 18, 2024 -
There seem to be vastly different opinions on this issue even among people in the same pro-Taiwan camp. Some people said that saying Taiwan is part of China is very insulting to the majority people of Taiwan and at this point, Taiwan and China are just two separate nations. Others said they didn't like the fact that Taiwan is part of China, but it's a fact for now. Others argued that the Taiwanese government is the 'sole legitimate government of all China' and Taiwanese should be proud of the fact that they are part of China. Some argued that they just wanted the 'status quo' and the peace of the region(But I had a feeling that 'status quo' meant vastly different things to different people.) So is Taiwan a part of China or not? Why are there so many different opinions on this seemingly simple question?
Top answer 1 of 5
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What in the world makes you think this is "simple"? Just because a question is simply phrased doesn't make the answer simple at all. In the world of geopolitics, everything is complicated - there is history, geography, military power balance, alliances and rivals, ideology, cultural norms, legal norms, political structures, demographics, economic power, resources etc etc.
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You really have to know a bit of history to understand why people have various views. What’s below seems like a lot but that’s why people have so many different answers. Taiwan has a colonial history similar to America. The original people were Austronesian tribes. In the 1600s Han Chinese started arriving and in the lat 1600s the Qing Dynasty took control of the lowland areas. The Qing control did not do much with Taiwan. There was time and isolation to allow the Han Chinese colonizers and their descendants to drift culturally. By 1895 the Han Chinese were over 95% of the population. The Han spoke mostly Hokkien and Hakka, languages also spoken by Han Chinese on the mainland. (Han Chinese is a bit like European in that it is a large group of related ethnicities speaking different but related languages). In 1895 the Japanese took over after defeating China in war. They were brutal at first. They extended rule over the entire island and were especially brutal to the Indigenous Taiwanese. Japan invested heavily in Taiwan seeking to make it a “model colony”. They built infrastructure, brought rule of law and safe streets, dramatically increased education, and made Taiwan the richest place in Asia outside the Japanese home islands. In 1945 the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), officially governing as the Republic of China (ROC) was given administrative in accordance with a declaration by the allied powers that Japan return all the land it had taken, a declaration later backed up by Japanese surrender documents. Shortly after taking over, the KMT declared Taiwan’s retrocession. KMT rule was particularly brutal and incompetent compared to what Taiwanese, other than the Indigenous, had experienced under Japanese rule. Infrastructure was looted and sent across the strait, the business and political elite were particularly targeted in massacres. The people began to remember Japanese rule fondly as a time of safety and prosperity. In 1949 the KMT lost the civil war it had been fighting for decades on the other side of the strait, so they moved their government to Taiwan. They brought a million or two refugees with them, enough that they and their descendants are around 10% of Taiwan’s population today. From 1949 to 1987, the KMT continued to rule oppressively using martial law. Sure this time they oppressed Taiwanese culture and affirmed through education and media that Taiwan was part of China and everyone there was Chinese. Mandarin was made the official language and it became a tool for excluding Taiwanese from many good jobs including government jobs. From 1988 to 1996, with the first Taiwanese president in power, Taiwan transitioned to democracy. PRC position: Taiwan has always been part of China, it’s time under Japan was an illegal occupation, Taiwan was returned to China and the PRC is the successor to the ROC. KMT position: Taiwan has always been part of China, it’s time under Japan was an illegal occupation, Taiwan was returned to China, specifically the ROC. The civil war is still ongoing. Taiwan must once again be ruled by China but only after China becomes democratic. The ROC is the legitimate government of all China. Position typically held by descendants of refugees and by older people who grew up under martial law: same as KMT position. DPP official position: Taiwan is the Republic of China and the Republic of China is independent so there is no need for Taiwan to declare independence. Belief by many younger people and by a significant fraction of older people who aren’t descendants of refugees: Taiwan is a separate country that deserves to have its own name: see the Montevideo convention. Belief by some analysts: Taiwan does not meet the definition of statehood because it doesn’t have widespread international recognition. Belief by some other analysts. Taiwan does have widespread recognition, even if that recognition is informal. American government policy: There is only one China and its government is the PRC, but America doesn’t take a position on whether “China” includes Taiwan. Taiwan’s final post-WWII status is unresolved and must be resolved peacefully. Most Taiwanese, regardless of what they believe about the larger question of state hood, agree with the idea that maintaining the status quo is best for now. They govern themselves which they believe is more important than what name they use. This took a while to type. I apologize if there are any typos.
Is Taiwan a country? : geoguessr
As the picture. Why can't I change it back? Do I have to be British all the time? This has been bothering me for a long time. I hope someone can... More on old.reddit.com
Just heard Taiwan referred to as a country in the Olympic opening commentary. Nice
Taiwan is literally Gaminguud who invaded Mongolia after the fall of the Qing. They claimed Mongolia as theirs until very recently. Some Taiwanese maps still show Mongolia under their control. A Taiwanese person does not recognize we are a sovereign country. Taiwan literally tried to veto Mongolia’s independence and also our effort to join the UN. Taiwan is NOT our friend.
More on reddit.com 27
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February 27, 2019Taiwan is not a country
Strongest pro CCP cuck vs weakest taiwanese chad. More on reddit.com
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March 31, 2024Um, is Taiwan a country or not?
It's Complicated. Taiwan says it is, China says it isn't and that it's part of China. China gets mad if you say it's it's own country More on reddit.com
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April 20, 2022Taiwan Government Portal
taiwan.gov.tw › content_3.php
HISTORY - Taiwan.gov.tw - Government Portal of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Welcome to the Official Portal Website of the Republic of China, Taiwan. Discover all the government's online information and services here.
ThoughtCo
thoughtco.com › is-taiwan-a-country-1435437
Is Taiwan Considered a Country?
May 7, 2025 - Mainland China's position on Taiwan is that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China; the People's Republic of China is awaiting reunification of the island and mainland. However, Taiwan claims independence as a distinct state. There are eight accepted criteria used to determine whether a place is an independent country (also known as a State with a capital "s").
YouTube
youtube.com › planet bell
Is TAIWAN a country or part of CHINA? - YouTube
Although the United Nations officially declares Taiwan to be part of China and only 14 countries recognize Taiwanese independence, Taiwan is an independent c...
Published October 13, 2023 Views 3K
Reuters
reuters.com › world › china › what-is-taiwan-independence-is-taiwan-already-independent-2025-12-30
What is 'Taiwan independence' and is Taiwan already independent? | Reuters
3 weeks ago - China detests Lai and calls him a "separatist". Before Lai was elected president he made comments about being a "practical worker for Taiwan independence". Lai maintains he simply meant Taiwan is already an independent country.
Usali
usali.org › publications › talking-points-what-does-international-law-say-about-taiwan
Talking Points: What Does International Law Say About Taiwan? — U.S.-Asia Law Institute
July 15, 2025 - Here is where the People’s Republic of China (PRC) begins the conversation: there's one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.
Taiwan Starts Here
taiwanstartshere.com › home › taiwan destinations › is taiwan a country?
Is Taiwan a Country?
October 2, 2024 - Taiwan is a country as far as I'm concerned, but the legal status of Taiwan remains controversial. Here's why.
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › geography & travel › countries of the world
Taiwan | History, Flag, Map, Capital, Population, & Facts | Britannica
4 days ago - Taiwan is an island in the western Pacific Ocean that lies roughly 100 miles (160 km) off the coast of southeastern China. Taipei, in the north, is the seat of government of the Republic of China (ROC; Nationalist China).
Defending Taiwan
defendingtaiwan.com › home › is taiwan part of china?
Is Taiwan Part of China? - Defending Taiwan
June 17, 2022 - Chinese leaders might hope that repetition will breed acceptance, but the historical reality is that the “One China” concept is a lie. While American policymakers in pursuit of compromise and détente with the PRC have wavered over the decades in their commitment to Taiwan, the reality is that mainland China’s historical and legal claims to Taiwan do not stand up to scrutiny.
Taiwan.gov.tw
taiwan.gov.tw › about.php
ABOUT TAIWAN - Taiwan.gov.tw - Government Portal of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
The country is situated in the West Pacific between Japan and the Philippines. Its jurisdiction extends to the archipelagos of Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, as well as numerous other islets.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
mfa.gov.cn › eng › zy › wjls › 3604_665547 › 202405 › t20240531_11367561.html
A policy of "one country, two systems" on Taiwan_Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
November 17, 2000 - Taiwan is a sacred and inseparable part of China's territory. Owing to reasons known to all, Taiwan has since 1949 been separated from the mainland. To bring about the complete reunification of China is the common aspiration of all the Chinese, both in the country and overseas.
BBC
bbc.com › news › world-asia-16164639
Taiwan country profile - BBC News
January 15, 2024 - Despite its diplomatic isolation, Taiwan - officially the Republic of China - has become one of Asia's major economic players, and one of the world's top producers of computer technology.
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Is Taiwan an independent country? Spoiler: No! - YouTube
Today I'm going to answer one of the biggest questions China faces today: is "Taiwan" an independent country?The short answer is "no," but there is very good...
Published June 29, 2025
World Population Review
worldpopulationreview.com › country-rankings › countries-that-recognize-taiwan
Countries that Recognize Taiwan 2026
2 weeks ago - In most circumstances, Taiwan would simply become its own country, independent of the rest of China. However, while Taiwan met most of the eight essential qualifications for nationhood, there remained one major complication: One of the required steps for a territory to be promoted to full U.N. member status (widely considered the most important step in officially becoming a sovereign nation), is to be approved by the U.N.
Quora
quora.com › Why-is-Taiwan-not-recognized-as-a-country-by-most-foreign-ministries
Why is Taiwan not recognized as a country by most foreign ministries? - Quora
Answer (1 of 7): Both Mainland China and Taiwan claim to be the legitimate government of the imaginary “One China.” Taiwan was widely recognized as “China” post WWII, from 1945 to 1971, as the government in exile. But by 1971 the realpolitik was accepted, Mainland China was firmly in ...
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Political_status_of_Taiwan
Political status of Taiwan - Wikipedia
3 days ago - Per its one-China principle, the official position of the People's Republic of China (PRC) is that it is the sole legitimate government representing all of China and that Taiwan an inalienable part of China. The PRC has expressed its preference for peaceful unification under the one country, two systems formula, but refuses to rule out military force.
BBC
bbc.com › news › world-asia-china-59900139
China and Taiwan: A really simple guide
January 8, 2024 - But the Taiwanese point to the same history to argue that they were not part of the modern Chinese state that was first formed after the revolution in 1911 - or the People's Republic of China that was established under Mao in 1949. Today, only 12 countries (plus the Vatican) officially recognise Taiwan.
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Getting Boozed Up in Taiwan ! - YouTube
Check out Ekster and get an extra 10% off your purchase with my code BACKPACKER - https://partner.ekster.com/backpackerbenLife in Taiwan channel - https://yo...
Published August 31, 2025