What country is known as the Republic of China?

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Taiwan is commonly known as the Republic of China, its constitutional and official state name. The Republic of China was founded in mainland China in 1912 after the fall of the Qing dynasty. Following the Chinese Civil War, its government relocated to Taiwan in 1949 and continued operating there.

Today, the Republic of China's administration controls Taiwan, the Penghu Islands, Kinmen and Matsu. In everyday international usage, “Taiwan” usually identifies the government and territory, while “Republic of China” refers to its formal constitutional name. The People's Republic of China, established on the mainland in 1949, is a separate government and uses “China” as its official short name.

The subject is politically sensitive. Taiwan's international status and the relationship between the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are disputed, and diplomatic terminology varies by country. For a general trivia question, however, Taiwan is the standard accepted answer to “What country is known as the Republic of China?”

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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