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Revision as of 17:21, 31 July 2002 by 24.27.58.16 (talk) (ROC is somewhat distinct from Taiwan)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Republic of China was the government which administrated Mainland China from 1911 to 1949 until it was overthrown by the [[Chinese Communist Party]] and has administrated Taiwan since 1945 until the present.
Until the 1970's, the Republic of China was recognized as the sole legitimate government of both Mainland China and Taiwan by the United Nations and most Western nations. The 1970's saw a switch in diplomatic recognitions from the ROC to the People's Republic of China. In 1991, the ROC officially stated that it would not challenge the rule of the Communist Party on the Mainland, but it has not officially renounced its right to rule Mainland China and Outer Mongolia. Such a declaration would be opposed by supporters of Chinese reunification on Taiwan and may ironically be interpreted as a declaration of independence upon which the Mainland may take military action.
Until the mid-1990's, supporters of Taiwan independence opposed the Republic of China and supported the creation of an independent Republic of Taiwan. Since the mid-1990's, a compromise has been reached between supporters of Taiwan independence and Chinese reunification on Taiwan to support the continuation of the Republic of China but as a government that administers only Taiwan.