Politics of the Republic of China

The Republic of China (ROC) currently has jurisdiction over Taiwan, Kinmen, Matsu, and the Pescadores Islands (Penghu) and several smaller islands. Taiwan's two major cities, Taipei and Kaohsiung, are centrally administered municipalities. The rest of Taiwan and the Penghu Islands are administered together as the Province of Taiwan. Kinmen, Matsu, and smaller nearby islands are administered as counties of Fukien (Fujian) Province.

Overview

The ROC is governed under the Constitution of the Republic of China which was drafted in 1947 before the fall of Mainland China and outlined a government for all of China. Significant amendments were made to the Constitution in 1991, and there have been a number of judicial interpretations made to take into account the fact that the Constitution covers a much smaller area than originally envisioned.

Related Topics:
Constitution of the Republic of China - 1947 - Mainland China - 1991

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Until 1991, the government in Taipei claimed to be the sole legitimate government of all of China, including the mainland, Tibet, and outer Mongolia. In keeping with that claim, when the Nationalists (Kuomintang) fled to Taipei in 1949, they re-established the full array of central political bodies, which had existed on the mainland in Nanking. While much of this structure remains in place, the President Lee Teng-hui in 1991 unofficially abandoned the government's claim of sovereignty over mainland China, stating that they do not "dispute the fact that the Communists control mainland China." However, the National Assembly has not officially changed the national borders, as doing so would be seen as a prelude to Taiwan independence. It should be noted that neither the National Assembly nor the Supreme Court has actually defined what "existing national boundaries", as stated in the constitution, actually is. The latter refused to do so claiming that it is a "major political issue".

Related Topics:
Taipei - China - Tibet - Outer Mongolia - Nationalists - Nanking - Lee Teng-hui - Mainland China - Communists - National Assembly - Taiwan independence

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See also: political status of Taiwan

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