9. Taiwan
The Republic of China (ROC) and the People’s Republic of China (PROC) are in dispute over the control of Taiwan. The country has a population of over 23 million and a GDP of $1.147 trillion, making it no small prize. However, the history of Taiwan as the international community refers to call it, is very complicated, making sovereignty even harder to decipher.
The modern issue of sovereignty began in 1895 when Taiwan was ceded to Japan. In 1912, the Republic of China formed on the mainland and took over control of Taiwan after the Japanese surrender in 1945. This lasted until 1949 when the Communist Party took complete control of the Chinese mainland, forming the People’s Republic of China. The Republic of China then fled to Taiwan where it continues to rule. The Republic of China continued to maintain that they were the legitimate government of China and even continued to represent China at the UN until 1971.
Taiwan is recognized today by 21 members of the UN and the Holy See. They are one of the Four Asian Tigers which has seen a huge economic boom with its high tech industry playing a major role in the world today. The People’s Republic of China refuses to see Taiwan as anything other than a province of China. To that end most of the international community still does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state. The People’s Republic of China has declared that any formal declaration of independence by Taiwan will be met with violence.
Today both China and Taiwan agree there is no real solution and thereby stand by the 1992 consensus which determined that there is one China but that both sides determined what one China means. The PRC believes they are the legitimate government of one china while the ROC believes they are the legitimate government of one China.