We coincided with China’s 70th anniversary celebrations
Many may not know that there are two Chinese republics, and today we will shed light on the “other” Republic of China.
Some people may not know that Taiwan’s official name is the Republic of China. Before 1949, it was an integral part of the Greater China, a founding member of the United Nations and one of the five permanent members of the Security Council until 1971, when membership became the People’s Republic of China. In 1949, a civil war broke out, resulting in the Communists taking control of the part known today as the People’s Republic of China, while the Nationalists took control of the island of Taiwan.
While Beijing opposes Taiwan’s independence because of its strategic and economic importance, the latter, supported by the United States of America, believes that it is more deserving of ruling the Greater People’s Republic of China.
Taiwan is a multi-party democratic republic with a semi-presidential system of government and five powers: executive, legislative, judicial, administrative control and examination. Taiwanese legislation allows the president to be elected for two terms of four years each. As for the People’s Republic of China, it is a socialist republic ruled by the Chinese Communist Party and the Central People’s Government.
Because of the People’s Republic of China’s claim to sovereignty over Taiwan, most countries and bodies do not recognize Taiwan as a legitimate state but have informal relations with them through representative and consular offices.