If you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between China (PRC) and Taiwan (ROC) or if there is one (I assure you, there is!), here’s a GREAT article that clearly explains the very complicated political status of Taiwan. I’ve lived in Taiwan for over four years, and this article was eye-opening to me; it explained a lot of what I have pieced together but had questions about.

Here’s a bit from the article, “Taiwan the Complicated”:

So to answer the question, is Taiwan part of China? NO, Taiwan is NOT part of the People’s Republic of China 中華人民共和國, but YES, Taiwan is part of the Republic of China 中華民國. Currently the territory that’s actually under the ROC’s control only includes Taiwan, the Penghu islands, Kinmen, and Matsu. Since the ROC doesn’t rule anything other than Taiwan and nearby islands, most people today refer to the Republic of China as the formal country name of Taiwan.

If you’re at all interested in learning about Taiwan, I hope you’ll take time to read the rest of the article. The rest of the website, Ilha Formosa – Alt om Taiwan, is also very informative about Taiwanese government, culture, and just about anything you want to learn about Taiwan.