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The Republic of China (中華民國 ; Wade-Giles: Chung¹-hua² Min²-kuo² ; pinyin: Zhōnghuá mínguó) is a country that currently consists of Taiwan and several outlying islands of Fujian, namely Quemoy and Matsu. In the western news media, the term Taiwan is frequently used synonymously with the Republic of China while "China" is now used to mean the People's Republic of China.

Succeeding the Qing Dynasty in China, the Republic of China (ROC) administered Mainland China from 1911 to 1949 until it was defeated by the Chinese Communists and has administered Taiwan from 1945 until the present. The provisional capital is Taipei and official capital remains the city of Nanjing in Mainland China. (See also: Min Guo)

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China on the mainland, the political status of the Republic of China has been a controversial issue. After losing control over Mainland China, the ruling Kuomintang authorities actively claimed sovereignty over mainland China (including Tibet) and outer Mongolia. In 1991, President Lee Teng-hui stated that the government will no longer challenge communist rule on the mainland. The current administration of President Chen Shui-bian has left the issue of sovereignty somewhat ambigious, although the government has stopped mentioning Mainland China and its websites feature maps and pictures of Taiwan. However, the National Assembly has not formally renounced the ROC's jurisdiction over mainland China and outer Mongolia, as this would be seen as a precursor to Taiwan independence.

History

Main articles: History of China, History of the Republic of China

The Republic of China developed out of an uprising against the Qing Dynasty which began at Wuchang on October 10, 1911. This date is celebrated in Taiwan as Double Tenth Day. The uprising is now called Wuchang Uprising. Emboldened by the lack of response against this uprising, provincial assemblies began to secede forcing the last emperor to abdicate.

The nationalist Kuomintang party, which at the time controlled the government of the ROC, retreated to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China ended in the Communists' favour in 1949, bringing with them some 2 million refugees from Mainland China.

Taiwan remained under martial law for 4 decades until 1987 and one-party rule until 1991 when President Chiang Ching-kuo gradually liberalized and democratized the system. The relationship with the People's Republic of China and the related issues of either Taiwanese independence or Chinese reunification continue to dominate Taiwanese politics.

See also: History of Taiwan, Timeline of Chinese history

Politics

Main article: Politics of the Republic of China

The Republic of China has undergone a process of democratisation since its constitution was reformed in the early 1990s. The head of state is the president, who is elected by popular vote for a four-year term on the same ticket as the vice-president. The president has authority over the five administrative branches (Yuan): the Executive Yuan, Legislative Yuan, Control Yuan, Judicial Yuan, and Examination Yuan. The president appoints the members of the Executive Yuan as his cabinet, including a premier who is officially the President of the Executive Yuan; members are responsible for policy and administration.

The main legislative body is the unicameral Legislative Yuan with 225 seats, of which 168 are elected by popular vote. Of the remainder, 41 are elected on the basis of the proportion of nationwide votes received by participating political parties, eight are elected from overseas Chinese constituencies on the same principle, as are the eight seats for the aboriginal populations; members serve three-year terms. Originally the unicameral National Assembly, as a standing constitutional convention and electoral college, held some parliamentary functions, but this has now become a non-standing body of 300 members that has seen most of its powers transferred to the Legislative Yuan.

Political divisions

Main article: Political divisions of the Republic of China