Defending Formosa

摘要

The People's Republic of China (PRC), mainland China, claims sovereignty over the island of Taiwan - formerly known as Formosa - located some 90nm off its eastern coastline. The current tense situation dates back to the Chinese Civil War, fought from 1927 until 1950, when the defeated Nationalists retreated to Taiwan. Meanwhile, communists took control of mainland China, where their leader, Mao Zedong, declared establishment of the PRC on October 1, 1949. Although Taiwan functions as an independent state - officially the Republic of China - the Communist Party in the PRC strongly opposes any form of diplomatic recognition for the island state and continues to seek its reunification with mainland China. In the past it has not excluded the possibility of using force in achieving this aim.