(People's) Republic of China

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As I will be going in Taiwan as an exchange student, I started wondering what exactly was the status of this island.
I knew that the People's Republic of China (PRC) considered Taiwan as a province and that Taiwan considered itself as an independant country.
But today I visited the Taipei city Government's site. And here is the 1st sentence : Taipei is the capital of the Republic of China WHAT??? Did I miss something?
It so appears that Taiwan considers itself as a country : The Republic of China (ROC). Where does that come from?
Here is a little bit if history : Taiwan has been populated bu successive wave of chinese immigration. In 1949 the Guomindang (Chinese nationalists) fled continental China as the Communists are gaining power. So if you're interested, Taiwan is the best place to see the remainings of Chinese traditions as there was no Cultural Revolution.
The Guomindang then claimed that they are the right representants of all China (continental included) which was not so hard as Mao didn't make Continental China take any place in the diplomatic world (no seat at the UN).
Then in 1971 as continental China reappeared in the Diplomatic world, Taiwan got ejected from its seat.
Taiwan's very modern army and the support of the US following the Taiwan Act has ensure Taiwan's autonomy's in the facts.
But should they claim their independance? The taiwanese are not so hot about it (there are the Green ones for Independance and the Blue ones for Reunification). They are independant in the facts and the PRC asserts that one of the main things that could lead to an armed conflict would be if Taiwan declared its Independance.
By whom is Taiwan recognised as an independant country? Some 25 small countries has recognised the ROC. Since 1971, when Taiwan lost its seat at the UN, a prerequisite to any diplomatic relationship with the PRC is the acknowledgement of the "Unity of china".
Today the status-quo still seems to be the best option for everybody. Except for me... Where the hell should I be going to get my visa? Chinese Consulate, Taipei's Paris Office? Anyway, in February I will be going in (People's) republic of China...


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