Editing Political status of Taiwan (section)

== Positions of governments and other officials ==

=== People's Republic of China (PRC) ===

[[File:Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents (front).jpg|alt=|thumb|350x350px|A PRC [[Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents]]. Permits allow ROC residents of Taiwan to enter mainland China. The PRC refuses to accept ROC [[Taiwan passport|passports]].]]
The position of the PRC is that the ROC ceased to be a legitimate government upon the founding of the former on 1 October 1949 and that the PRC is the successor of the ROC as the sole legitimate government of China, with the right to rule Taiwan under the [[succession of states theory]].<ref name="prc_wp">{{cite web |year = 2005 |title = The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue |work = PRC Taiwan Affairs Office and the Information Office of the State Council |url = http://www.gwytb.gov.cn:8088/detail.asp?table=WhitePaper&title=White%20Papers%20On%20Taiwan%20Issue&m_id=4 |access-date = 6 March 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060213045631/http://www.gwytb.gov.cn:8088/detail.asp?table=WhitePaper&title=White+Papers+On+Taiwan+Issue&m_id=4 |archive-date = 13 February 2006 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

The position of the PRC is that the ROC and PRC are two different factions in the Chinese Civil War, which never legally ended. Therefore, the PRC claims that both factions belong to the same sovereign country—China. Since, as per the PRC, Taiwan's sovereignty belongs to China, the PRC's government and supporters believe that the secession of Taiwan should be agreed upon by all 1.3&nbsp;billion Chinese citizens instead of just the 23&nbsp;million residents of Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web |title = Four-point guidelines on cross-Straits relations set forth by President Hu |work = PRC Taiwan Affairs Office and the Information Office of the State Council |url = http://www.gwytb.gov.cn:8088/detail.asp?table=OneCP&title=One-China+Principle&m_id=27 |access-date = 16 September 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081012061448/http://www.gwytb.gov.cn:8088/detail.asp?table=OneCP&title=One-China+Principle&m_id=27 |archive-date = 12 October 2008 |url-status = dead }}</ref> Furthermore, the position of PRC is that [[UN General Assembly Resolution 2758]], which states "Recognizing that the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations", means that the PRC is recognized as having the sovereignty of all of China, including Taiwan.{{NoteTag|Established by Cairo Declaration, Potsdam Proclamation and Japanese Instrument of Surrender, according to the PRC's claim.}} Therefore, the PRC believes that it is within its legal rights to extend its jurisdiction to Taiwan by military means if at all necessary.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

In addition, the position of the PRC is that the ROC does not meet the fourth criterion of the [[Montevideo Convention]], as it is recognized by only {{Numrec|ROC||UN member states}} and has been denied access to international organizations such as the UN. The PRC points out the fact that the Montevideo Convention was only signed by 19 states at the Seventh International Conference of American States. Thus the authority of the United Nations as well as UN Resolutions, should supersede the Montevideo Convention. However, "When speaking of statehood, one invariably refers to the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, 60 which, laying down what is now considered a rule of customary international law, states that "[t]he State as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with other States." Taiwan indeed satisfies all these criteria for statehood."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Montevideo Convention of 1933 & UN Articles on Responsibility of States (2001) |url=https://h2o.law.harvard.edu/text_blocks/28904 |website=H2O platform |access-date=16 June 2022 |archive-date=15 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915194735/https://h2o.law.harvard.edu/text_blocks/28904 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some{{Who|date=April 2025}} would argue that Taiwan meets all the requirements of the Montevideo Convention. But to make such an argument, one has to reject China's claim of sovereignty over the territory of the Taiwan island, a claim that has been recognized by most states in the world.<ref>{{Cite book | author = Stephen D. Krasner | title = Problematic Sovereignty: Contested Rules and Political Possibilities | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ISqwQIBQff4C | publisher = [[Columbia University Press]] | date = 2001 | location = [[New York City]] | page = 46 | isbn = 0231121792 | author-link = Stephen D. Krasner | access-date = 3 December 2019 | archive-date = 11 April 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230411110842/https://books.google.com/books?id=ISqwQIBQff4C | url-status = live }}</ref>

It is clear that the PRC still maintains that "there is only one China in the world" and "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China". However, instead of "the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China", the PRC now emphasizes that "both Taiwan and the mainland belong to one and same China".{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} Although the current position allows for flexibility in terms of defining that "one China", any departure from the [[One-China policy]] is deemed unacceptable by the PRC government. The PRC government is unwilling to negotiate with the ROC government under any formulation other than the One-China policy, although a more flexible definition of "one China" such as found in the [[1992 consensus]] is possible under PRC policy. The PRC government considers the 1992 consensus a temporary measure to set aside sovereignty disputes and enable talks.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The PRC government considers perceived violations of its "One-China policy" or inconsistencies with it, such as supplying the ROC with arms a violation of its rights to [[territorial integrity]].<ref name="pdaily041010">{{cite news |url = http://english.people.com.cn/200410/10/eng20041010_159539.html |title = China expresses strong indignation for "US-Taiwan defense conference": FM spokesman |newspaper = [[People's Daily]] |date = 10 October 2004 |access-date = 11 June 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060627143113/http://english.people.com.cn/200410/10/eng20041010_159539.html |archive-date = 27 June 2006 |url-status = live }}</ref> International news organizations often report that "China considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be united with the mainland by force if necessary", even though the PRC does not explicitly say that Taiwan is a "renegade province" in any press releases. However, official PRC media outlets and officials often refer to Taiwan as "China's [[Taiwan Province, People's Republic of China|Taiwan Province]]" or simply "[[Taiwan, China]]", and pressure international organizations to use the term.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

=== Republic of China (ROC) ===

{{More citations needed section|date=November 2007}}
[[File:Republic_of_China_(Taiwan)_Passport_2020.svg|thumb|Current [[Republic of China passport]] ([[Taiwan Passport]])]]

The ROC argues that it maintains all the characteristics of a state and that it was not "replaced" or "succeeded" by the PRC because it has continued to exist long after the PRC's founding.

According to the Montevideo Convention of 1933, the most cited source for the definition of statehood, a state must possess a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. Some{{Who|date=April 2025}} argue that the ROC meets all these criteria. However, to make such an argument, one has to reject the PRC's claim of sovereignty over the territory of the [[Taiwan island]]. The PRC requires all other states that establish [[diplomatic relations]] with it not to challenge this claim in addition to severing said relations with the ROC. Most states have either officially recognized this claim or carefully worded their agreement ambiguously, such as the United States.<ref>{{Cite book | author = Stephen D. Krasner | title = Problematic Sovereignty: Contested Rules and Political Possibilities | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ISqwQIBQff4C | publisher = [[Columbia University Press]] | date = 2001 | location = [[New York City]] | page = [https://books.google.com/books?id=ISqwQIBQff4C&pg=PA46 46] | isbn = 0231121792 | author-link = Stephen D. Krasner | access-date = 9 May 2020 | archive-date = 11 April 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230411110842/https://books.google.com/books?id=ISqwQIBQff4C | url-status = live }}</ref>

Both the original 1912 [[Constitution of the Republic of China|constitution]] and the 1923 draft version failed to list Taiwan as a part of the ROC since, at the time, Taiwan was a Japanese territory. It was only in the mid-1930s when both the CCP and KMT realized the future strategic importance of Taiwan that they altered their party positions to make a claim on Taiwan as a part of China. After losing the Civil War against the CCP in 1949, Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist Party fled to Taiwan and continued to maintain that their government represented all of China, i.e. both Taiwan and the mainland.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The position of most supporters of [[Taiwan independence]] is that the PRC is the government of "China" and that Taiwan is not part of China, defining "China" as only including Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Regarding the ROC, one ideology within Taiwan's independence regards the ROC as already an independent, sovereign state and seeks to amend the ROC's existing name, constitution, and existing framework to reflect the loss of ROC's mainland territory and transform the ROC into a Taiwan state; while another ideology of Taiwan independence regards the ROC as both a military government that has been administering the Taiwan island as a result of post-war [[military occupation]] on behalf of the allies of World War II since 1945, and a Chinese refugee regime currently in exile on Taiwan since 1949, and seeks to eliminate the ROC and establish a new independent Taiwan state.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The Democratic Progressive Party states that Taiwan has never been under the jurisdiction of the PRC and that the PRC does not exercise any hold over the 23&nbsp;million Taiwanese on the island. On the other hand, the position of most [[Chinese unification]] supporters is that the Chinese Civil War is still not over since no peace agreement has ever been signed and that the current status is a state of [[ceasefire]] between two [[belligerents]] of "[[One China]]".{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The position of the Republic of China has been that it is a ''[[de jure]]'' sovereign state. "Republic of China," according to the ROC government's definition, extended to both mainland China (Including [[Hong Kong Special Administrative Region|Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]]) and the island of Taiwan.<ref name=mac>{{cite press release | publisher = Mainland Affairs Council, ROC Executive Yuan | date = 29 March 2005 | title = The Official Position of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on China's Passing of the Anti-secession (Anti-Separation) Law | url = http://www.mac.gov.tw/english/english/anti/mofa940329e.htm | access-date = 11 June 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090215122022/http://www.mac.gov.tw/english/english/anti/mofa940329e.htm | archive-date = 15 February 2009 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

In 1991, [[President of the Republic of China|President]] [[Lee Teng-hui]] unofficially claimed that the government would no longer challenge the rule of the CCP in mainland China, although the ROC government under Kuomintang (KMT) rule actively maintained that it was the sole legitimate government of China. The Courts in Taiwan have never accepted President Lee's statement, primarily due to the reason that the (now defunct) [[National Assembly of the Republic of China|National Assembly]] never officially changed the acclaimed national borders. Notably, the People's Republic of China claims that changing the national borders would be "a precursor to Taiwan independence". The task of changing the national borders now requires a constitutional amendment passed by the [[Legislative Yuan]] and ratified by a majority of all eligible ROC voters, which the PRC has implied would constitute grounds for military attack.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

[[File:Exit and Entry Permit of Republic of China (Taiwan).jpg|thumb|Exit and Entry Permit Taiwan, Republic of China. The Republic of China issues this permit to enable residents of mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau to travel to Taiwan. The Republic of China refuses to accept [[People's Republic of China passport]]s.]]
On the other hand, though the constitution of the Republic of China promulgated in 1946 does not state exactly what territory it includes, the draft of the constitution of 1925 did individually list the provinces of the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] and [[Taiwan Province|Taiwan]] was not among them, since Taiwan was arguably ''de jure'' part of Japan as the result of the Treaty of Shimonoseki of 1895. The constitution also stipulated in Article I.4, that "the territory of the ROC is the original territory governed by it; unless authorized by the National Assembly, it cannot be altered." 

However, in 1946, [[Sun Fo]], son of [[Sun Yat-Sen]] and the minister of the [[Executive Yuan]] of the ROC, reported to the National Assembly that "there are two types of territory changes: 1. renouncing territory and 2. annexing new territory. The first example would be the independence of [[Mongolia]], and the second example would be the reclamation of Taiwan. Both would be examples of territory changes." Japan renounced all rights to Taiwan in the [[Treaty of San Francisco]] in 1951 and the Treaty of Taipei of 1952 without an explicit recipient. While the ROC continuously ruled Taiwan after the government was directed to Taiwan by the [[General Order No. 1]] (1945) to receive Japanese surrender, there has never been a meeting of the ROC National Assembly in making a territory change according to the ROC constitution. The explanatory memorandum to the constitution explained the omission of individually listing the provinces as opposed to the earlier drafts was an act of deliberate ambiguity: as the ROC government does not recognize the validity of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, based on Chiang Kai-shek's [[Denunciation]] of the treaty in the late 1930s, hence (according to this argument) the sovereignty of Taiwan was never disposed of by China. A ratification by the ROC National Assembly is, therefore, unnecessary.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The [[s:Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China|Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China]] have mentioned "Taiwan Province," and the now defunct National Assembly passed constitutional amendments that give the people of the "[[Free Area of the Republic of China]]", comprising the territories under its current jurisdiction, the sole right, until unification, to exercise the sovereignty of the Republic through elections<ref name=mac /><ref>{{cite news |title=Taiwan assembly passes changes |date=7 June 2005 |publisher=[[BBC News]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4616043.stm |access-date=11 June 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223024224/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4616043.stm |archive-date=23 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> of the President and the entire Legislature as well as through elections to ratify amendments to the ROC constitution. Also, Chapter I, Article 2 of the ROC constitution states that "The sovereignty of the Republic of China shall reside in the whole body of citizens." This suggests that the constitution implicitly admits that the sovereignty of the ROC is limited to the areas that it controls, even if there is no constitutional amendment that explicitly spells out the ROC's borders.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

[[File:Taiwan the Province Government Building.JPG|thumb|The building of the Provincial Government of the Taiwan Province of the Republic of China at Jhongsing Village]]
[[File:Presidential Office Taipei.jpg|thumb|The Republic of China Presidential Office Building is located in the Zhongzheng District of [[Taipei]].]]

In 1999, ROC President Lee Teng-hui proposed a [[Special state-to-state relations|two-state theory]] (兩國論) in which both the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China would acknowledge that they are two separate countries with a special diplomatic, cultural, and historic relationship.<ref name=2states_1>{{cite news | first=Sanya | last=Bunnag | title=Understanding Taiwan's tactics | date=20 July 1999 | publisher=[[BBC News]]| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/399381.stm | access-date=11 June 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040521081721/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/399381.stm | archive-date=21 May 2004 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name = 2000vote>{{cite journal | author=Willem van Kemenade | title=Taiwan, Voting for Trouble? | journal=The Washington Quarterly | year=2000 | volume=23 | issue=2 | pages=135–151 | url=http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/washington_quarterly/v023/23.2kemenade.html | doi=10.1162/016366000560809 | s2cid=219627253 | access-date=11 June 2006 | archive-date=11 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411110902/https://muse.jhu.edu/article/36529 | url-status=live }}</ref> This, however, drew an angry reaction from the PRC who believed that Lee was covertly supporting Taiwan independence.<ref name=2states_2>{{cite news | title=Beijing media ups the ante | date=20 July 1999 | publisher=[[BBC News]]| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/monitoring/399350.stm | access-date=11 June 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930011047/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/monitoring/399350.stm | archive-date=30 September 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref>

President [[Chen Shui-bian]] (2000&nbsp;– May 2008) fully supported the idea that the "Republic of China is an independent, sovereign country" but held the view that the Republic of China is Taiwan and Taiwan does not belong to the People's Republic of China. This is suggested in his [[Four-stage Theory of the Republic of China]]. Due to the necessity of avoiding war with the PRC, however, President Chen had refrained from formally declaring Taiwan's independence. Government publications have implied that Taiwan refers to the ROC, and "China" refers to the PRC.<ref name=mac /> After becoming chairman of the [[Democratic Progressive Party]] in July 2002, Chen appeared to move further than Lee's special two-state theory and in early August 2002, by putting forward the "[[one country on each side]]" concept, he stated that Taiwan may "go on its own Taiwanese road" and that "it is clear that the two sides of the straits are separate countries." These statements essentially eliminate any "special" factors in the relations and were strongly criticized by opposition parties in Taiwan. President Chen has repeatedly refused to endorse the [[One China policy|One China Principle]] or the more "flexible" [[1992 Consensus]] the PRC demands as a precursor to negotiations with the PRC. During Chen's presidency, there had not been any successful attempts to restart negotiations on a semi-official level.

In the 2008 ROC elections, the people delivered KMT's [[Ma Ying-jeou]] with an election win as well as a sizable majority in the legislature. President Ma, throughout his election campaign, maintained that he would accept the 1992 consensus and promote better relations with the PRC. In respect of Taiwan's political status, his policy was 1. he would not negotiate with the PRC on the subject of unification during his term; 2. he would never declare Taiwan's independence; and 3. he would not provoke the PRC into attacking Taiwan. He officially accepted the 1992 Consensus in his inauguration speech, which resulted in direct semi-official talks with the PRC, and this later led to the commencement of weekend direct charter flights between mainland China and Taiwan. President Ma also interprets the cross-strait relations as "[[special non-state-to-state relations|special]]", "but not that between two nations".<ref name="chinapost.com.tw">{{cite news|title=Taiwan and China in 'special relations': Ma|newspaper=The China Post|date=4 September 2008|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan%20relations/2008/09/04/173082/Taiwan-and.htm|access-date=6 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906092524/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan%20relations/2008/09/04/173082/Taiwan-and.htm|archive-date=6 September 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> He later stated that mainland China is part of the territory of the Republic of China, and laws relating to international relations are not applicable to the relations between mainland China and Taiwan, as they are parts of a state.<ref name="taipeitimes.com">{{cite news |last=Ko |first=Shu-Ling |title=Ma refers to China as ROC territory in magazine interview |newspaper=Taipei Times |date=8 October 2008 |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/10/08/2003425320 |access-date=8 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603213128/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/10/08/2003425320 |archive-date=3 June 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |script-title=zh:馬總統：兩岸關係是現實關係 |trans-title=President Ma: Cross-strait relations are relations based on current reality |publisher=Central News Agency of the Republic of China |date=8 October 2008 |url=http://www.president.gov.tw/php-bin/prez/shownews.php4?_section=3&_recNo=2 |language=zh |access-date=8 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130073559/http://www.president.gov.tw/php-bin/prez/shownews.php4?_section=3&_recNo=2 |archive-date=30 November 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=王寓中 |script-title=zh:馬：大陸是中華民國領土 |trans-title=Ma: the mainland is the territory of the Republic of China |work=Liberty Times|date=8 October 2008 |url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/oct/8/today-fo3.htm |language=zh |access-date=8 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010072015/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/oct/8/today-fo3.htm |archive-date=10 October 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2016, [[Tsai Ing-Wen]] of the DPP won a landslide victory in the presidential election and was later re-elected for the second term in 2020. She refused to agree that Taiwan is part of China and also rejected the [[one country, two systems]] model proposed by the PRC. Instead, she said that "Republic of China, Taiwan" already is an independent country and that Beijing must "face reality".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/15/tsai-ing-wen-says-china-must-face-reality-of-taiwans-independence |title=Tsai Ing-wen says China must 'face reality' of Taiwan's independence |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=15 January 2020 |access-date=4 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203232346/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/15/tsai-ing-wen-says-china-must-face-reality-of-taiwans-independence |archive-date=3 February 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Other countries and international organizations ===
{{See also|Foreign relations of Taiwan|Taiwan and the United Nations}}
[[File:Voting res 2758.svg|thumb|600px|Voting situation in the [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758|UN general assembly respect to resolution 2758]] (1971)
{{legend|limegreen|Vote in favor}}
{{legend|red|Vote against}}
{{legend|blue|Non-Voting}}
{{legend|yellow|Abstention}}
{{legend|silver|Non-UN-members or dependencies}}
]]

Because of [[Anti-communism|anti-communist]] sentiment at the start of the [[Cold War]], the Republic of China was initially recognized as the sole legitimate government of China by the United Nations and most Western nations. On 9 January 1950, the Israeli government extended recognition to the People's Republic of China. [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 505]], passed on 1 February 1952, considered the CCP to be rebels against the Republic of China. 

However, the 1970s saw a switch in diplomatic recognition from the ROC to the PRC. On 25 October 1971, Resolution 2758 was passed by the [[UN General Assembly]], which "decides to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it." Multiple attempts by the Republic of China to rejoin the UN, no longer to represent all of China but just the people of the territories it governs, have not made it past committee, largely due to diplomatic maneuvering by the PRC, which claims Resolution 2758 has settled the matter.{{NoteTag|See: [[China and the United Nations]]}}

The PRC refuses to maintain diplomatic relations with any nation that recognizes the ROC,<ref name = prc_wp /> but does not object to nations conducting economic, cultural, and other such exchanges with Taiwan that do not imply diplomatic relations. Therefore, multiple nations that have diplomatic relations with Beijing maintain quasi-diplomatic offices in Taipei. Similarly, the government in Taiwan maintains quasi-diplomatic offices in most nations under various names, most commonly as the [[Taipei Economic and Cultural Office]].

[[File:U.S. President Eisenhower visited TAIWAN 美國總統艾森豪於1960年6月訪問臺灣台北時與蔣中正總統-2.jpg|275px|right|thumb|With President Chiang Kai-shek, the U.S. President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] waved hands to Taiwanese people during his visit to [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]] in June 1960.]]
The United States of America is [[Taiwan–United States relations|one of the main allies]] of Taiwan and since the [[Taiwan Relations Act]] passed in 1979, the United States has sold arms and provided military training to Taiwan's [[Republic of China Armed Forces]].<ref name="TRA-review">{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/research/asiaandthepacific/bg1272.cfm|title=The Taiwan Relations Act After 20 Years: Keys to Past and Future Success|last=Yates|first=Stephen J.|date=16 April 1999|publisher=The Heritage Foundation|access-date=19 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722095740/http://www.heritage.org/research/asiaandthepacific/bg1272.cfm|archive-date=22 July 2009|url-status=unfit}}</ref> This situation continues to be a point of contention for the People's Republic of China, which considers US involvement disruptive to the stability of the region. In January 2010, the Obama administration announced its intention to sell $6.4&nbsp;billion worth of military hardware to Taiwan. As a consequence, China threatened the United States with economic sanctions and warned that their cooperation on international and regional issues could suffer.<ref>{{Cite news |title=China: US spat over Taiwan could hit co-operation |date=2 February 2010 |publisher=Agence France Presse |url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jDzKLVZ7X2dz8yrsshklcJZh38Cg |access-date=28 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206214100/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jDzKLVZ7X2dz8yrsshklcJZh38Cg |archive-date=6 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The official position of the United States is that China is expected to "use no force or threat[en] to use force against Taiwan" and that Taiwan is to "exercise prudence in managing all aspects of [[Cross-Strait relations]]." Both are to refrain from performing actions or espousing statements "that would unilaterally alter Taiwan's status."<ref name="UsPolicyToTaiwan">{{cite press release |publisher=US Department of State |date=21 April 2004 |title=Overview of US Policy Towards Taiwan |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2004/31649.htm |access-date=22 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014064318/https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2004/31649.htm |archive-date=14 October 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The United States maintains the [[American Institute in Taiwan]].

The United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, India, Pakistan, and Canada have in some form adopted the One China policy, under which the People's Republic of China is theoretically the sole legitimate government of China. However, the United States and Japan ''acknowledge'' rather than ''recognize'' the PRC position that Taiwan is part of China. In the case of the United Kingdom and Canada,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.org.tw/taiwan/bilateral_relations_bilaterales/fs-taiwan-fd.aspx?view=d|title=Fact Sheet|publisher=[[Canadian Trade Office in Taipei]]|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007025718/http://www.canada.org.tw/taiwan/bilateral_relations_bilaterales/fs-taiwan-fd.aspx?view=d|archive-date=7 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> bilateral written agreements state that the two respective parties ''take note'' of Beijing's position but do not use the word ''support''. The UK government's position that "the future of Taiwan be decided peacefully by the peoples of both sides of the Strait" has been stated several times. Despite the PRC's claim that the United States opposes Taiwanese independence, the United States takes advantage of the subtle difference between "oppose" and "does not support". In fact, a substantial majority of the statements Washington has made say that it "does not support Taiwan independence" instead of saying that it "opposes" independence. Thus, the US currently{{clarify timeframe|date=December 2021}} does not take a position on the political outcome, except for one explicit condition that there be a peaceful resolution to the differences between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.<ref name= UsPolicyToTaiwan /> The United States bi-partisan position is that it does not ''recognize'' the PRC's claim over Taiwan, and considers Taiwan's status as unsettled.<ref>{{cite web | title=U.S.-Taiwan Relationship: Overview of Policy Issues | author1=Shirley A. Kan | author2=Wayne M. Morrison | page=4 | url=http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/202880.pdf | date=4 January 2013 | publisher=Congressional Research Service | access-date=21 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211221234/http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/202880.pdf | archive-date=11 December 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Pope johnpaul funeral politics.jpeg|thumb|President [[Chen Shui-bian]] (''far left'') attended the [[funeral of Pope John Paul II]] in 2005. As the Holy See's recognized head of state of China, Chen was seated in the front row (in French alphabetical order) beside the first lady and president of Brazil.]]
The ROC maintains formal diplomatic relations with {{Numrec|ROC||UN member states}}, mostly in Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Oceania. Additionally, the [[Holy See]] also recognizes the ROC, a largely non-Christian/[[Catholic]] state, due partly to the Catholic Church's traditional opposition to communism and also to protest what it sees as the PRC's [[Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association|suppression of the Catholic faith]] in mainland China. However, [[Vatican City|Vatican]] diplomats were engaged in talks with PRC politicians at the time of Pope [[John Paul II]]'s death, with a view towards improving relations between the two countries. When asked, one Vatican diplomat suggested that relations with Taiwan might prove "expendable" should PRC be willing to engage in positive diplomatic relations with the Holy See.<ref>{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Spencer |title=Vatican ready to sacrifice Taiwan for China |date=16 May 2005 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/05/16/wvati16.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/05/16/ixworld.html |location=London |access-date=23 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017154111/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2005%2F05%2F16%2Fwvati16.xml&sSheet=%2Fnews%2F2005%2F05%2F16%2Fixworld.html |archive-date=17 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Under [[Pope Benedict XVI]], the Vatican and PRC have shown greater interest in establishing ties, including the appointment of pro-Vatican bishops and the Pope canceling a planned visit from the [[14th Dalai Lama]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119810469258140621.html?mod=googlenews_wsj|title=The Vatican's Cold Shoulder|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=20 December 2007|access-date=14 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525173249/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119810469258140621.html?mod=googlenews_wsj|archive-date=25 May 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the 1990s, there was a diplomatic tug-of-war in which the PRC and ROC attempted to outbid each other to obtain the diplomatic support of small nations. This struggle seems to have slowed as a result of the PRC's growing economic power and doubts in Taiwan as to whether this aid was actually in the Republic of China's interest. In March 2004, [[Dominica]] switched recognition to the PRC in exchange for a large aid package.<ref>{{cite news | first=James | last=Painter | title=Taiwan's 'Caribbean headache' | date=30 March 2004 | publisher=[[BBC News]]| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3583733.stm | access-date=11 June 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025021735/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3583733.stm | archive-date=25 October 2007 | url-status=live }}</ref> However, in late 2004, [[Vanuatu]] briefly switched recognition from Beijing to Taipei,<ref>{{cite news | first=Fred | last=Vurobaravu | title=Parliament debates Vanuatu-Taiwan deal | date=24 November 2004 | newspaper=Vanuatu Daily Post | url=http://www.news.vu/en/news/diplomacy/041124-parliament-debates-vanuato-taiwan.shtml | access-date=11 June 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017152234/http://news.vu/en/news/diplomacy/041124-parliament-debates-vanuato-taiwan.shtml | archive-date=17 October 2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref> followed by a return to its recognition of Beijing.<ref>{{cite news | title=Vanuatu gov. reshuffled after Taiwan controversy | date=11 December 2004 | publisher=[[China Radio International]] | url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-12/11/content_399473.htm | access-date=11 June 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060902225753/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-12/11/content_399473.htm | archive-date=2 September 2006 | url-status=live }}</ref> On 20 January 2005, [[Grenada]] switched its recognition from Taipei to Beijing, in return for millions in aid (US$1,500 for every Grenadian).<ref>{{cite news | title= Grenada picks China over Taiwan | date= 21 January 2005 | publisher=[[BBC News]]| url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia%2Dpacific/4190295.stm | access-date= 11 June 2006 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060312132416/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4190295.stm | archive-date= 12 March 2006 | url-status= live }}</ref> However, on 14 May 2005, [[Nauru]] announced the restoration of formal diplomatic relations with Taipei after a three-year hiatus, during which it briefly recognized the People's Republic of China.<ref>{{cite news |last=Su |first=Joy |title=Nauru Switches its Allegiance Back to Taiwan from China |date=15 May 2005 |newspaper=[[Taipei Times]] |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/05/15/2003254718 |access-date=30 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002225907/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/05/15/2003254718 |archive-date=2 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 26 October 2005, [[Senegal]] broke off relations with the Republic of China and established diplomatic contacts with Beijing.<ref>{{cite news | title=Senegal picks China over Taiwan | date=26 October 2005 | publisher=[[BBC News]]| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4377818.stm | access-date=11 June 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060218094916/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4377818.stm | archive-date=18 February 2006 | url-status=live }}</ref> The following year, on 5 August 2006, Taipei ended relations with [[Chad]] when Chad established relations with Beijing.<ref>{{cite news| title=Taiwan Breaks Off Relations With Chad| url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-08-05-voa36.cfm| date=5 August 2006| publisher=[[Voice of America]]| access-date=6 August 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060815041420/http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-08-05-voa36.cfm| archive-date=15 August 2006| url-status=dead}}</ref> On 26 April 2007, however, [[Saint Lucia]], which had previously severed ties with the Republic of China following a change of government in December 1996, announced the restoration of formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.<ref>{{cite news| title=Taiwan re-establishes diplomatic relations with St. Lucia| url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/01/asia/AS-GEN-Taiwan-China-St.-Lucia.php| date=30 August 2007| newspaper=International Herald Tribune| access-date=1 May 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017175419/http://iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/01/asia/AS-GEN-Taiwan-China-St.-Lucia.php| archive-date=17 October 2007| url-status=live}}</ref> On 7 June 2007, [[Costa Rica]] broke off diplomatic ties with the Republic of China in favour of the People's Republic of China.<ref name=BBCCostaRica>{{cite news| title=Taiwan loses Costa Rica's support| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6729035.stm| date=7 June 2007| work=[[BBC News]]News| access-date=7 June 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613052729/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6729035.stm| archive-date=13 June 2007| url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2008, Malawi's foreign minister reported Malawi decided to cut diplomatic recognition of the Republic of China and recognize the People's Republic of China.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/14/AR2008011400533.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407153128/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/14/AR2008011400533.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 April 2012|title=Malawi Drops Ties With Taiwan for China|agency=Associated Press|date=14 January 2008|access-date=14 January 2008 | first=Debby | last=Wu | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

On 4 November 2013, the Government of the Gambia announced its break-up with Taiwan, but the Foreign Affairs Ministry of China denied any ties with this political movement, adding that they were not considering on building a relation with this African nation.<ref>{{cite news | title= Gambia breaks relations with surprised Taiwan; China says it wasn't in contact with government | date= 14 November 2013 | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/gambia-breaks-relations-with-taiwan-in-diplomatic-setback-for-taipei/2013/11/14/c49436f4-4d94-11e3-97f6-ed8e3053083b_story.html | access-date= 8 September 2017 | archive-date= 15 November 2013 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20131115170346/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/gambia-breaks-relations-with-taiwan-in-diplomatic-setback-for-taipei/2013/11/14/c49436f4-4d94-11e3-97f6-ed8e3053083b_story.html | url-status= dead }}</ref> After the [[2016 Taiwanese presidential election]], China announced in March that it had resumed diplomatic relations with Gambia.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/19/world/asia/china-gambia-taiwan-diplomatic-relations.html|title=China Resumes Diplomatic Relations With Gambia, Shutting Out Taiwan|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=18 March 2016|access-date=18 June 2023|archive-date=6 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406224902/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/19/world/asia/china-gambia-taiwan-diplomatic-relations.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The latest countries to break off formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan were [[Burkina Faso]] on 24 May 2018,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/taiwan-loses-second-ally-in-a-month-amid-china-pressure-10274736|title=Taiwan loses second ally in a month amid China pressure|date=24 May 2018|website=Channel NewsAsia|language=en|access-date=28 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217034036/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/taiwan-loses-second-ally-in-a-month-amid-china-pressure-10274736|archive-date=17 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> [[El Salvador]] on 21 August 2018,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Horton |first=Chris |date=2018-08-21 |title=El Salvador Recognizes China in Blow to Taiwan |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/world/asia/taiwan-el-salvador-diplomatic-ties.html |access-date=2023-03-16 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=11 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311143610/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/world/asia/taiwan-el-salvador-diplomatic-ties.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Solomon Islands]] and [[Kiribati]] in September 2019,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/20/taiwan-loses-second-ally-in-a-week-as-kiribati-switches-to-china |title=Taiwan loses second ally in a week as Kiribati switches to China |last=Lyons |first=Kate |website=[[The Guardian]]|date=20 September 2019 |language=en |access-date=19 August 2020 |archive-date=30 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830155148/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/20/taiwan-loses-second-ally-in-a-week-as-kiribati-switches-to-china |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Nicaragua]] on 9 December 2021,<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1469073070048563202|user=KawsachunNews|title=BREAKING: Nicaragua breaks diplomatic relations with Taiwan and recognizes only one China: the People's Republic of China|date=9 December 2021}}</ref> [[Honduras]] on 26 March 2023,<ref>{{cite news |title=Honduras cuts ties with Taiwan, opens relations with China |date=26 Mar 2023 |newspaper=[[Al Jazeera Arabic|Al Jazeera]] |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/26/honduras-cuts-diplomatic-ties-with-taiwan |access-date=18 June 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326022309/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/26/honduras-cuts-diplomatic-ties-with-taiwan }}</ref> and [[Nauru]] on 15 January 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Davidson |first1=Helen |last2=Hawkins |first2=Amy |date=2024-01-15 |title=Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/15/nauru-to-sever-diplomatic-ties-with-taiwan-in-favour-of-china |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

As of at least 2024, the trend in [[East Asia|East Asian]] governments is not to generally discuss the issue of Taiwan's political status.<ref name=":Ma&Kang">{{Cite book |last1=Ma |first1=Xinru |title=Beyond Power Transitions: The Lessons of East Asian History and the Future of U.S.-China Relations |last2=Kang |first2=David C. |date=2024 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |isbn=978-0-231-55597-5 |series=Columbia Studies in International Order and Politics |location=New York}}</ref>{{Rp|page=183}} Academics Xinru Ma and David C. Kang write that when East Asian countries do, "it is often to caution the United States from getting too far ahead of where even the Taiwanese themselves are."<ref name=":Ma&Kang" />{{Rp|page=183}}

==== International organizations ====
Under continuing pressure from the PRC to bar any representation of the ROC that may imply statehood, international organizations have adopted different policies toward the issue of ROC's participation. In cases where almost all UN members or sovereign states participate, such as the [[World Health Organization]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Klapper |first=Bradley |date=23 May 2006 |title=Taiwan fails in 10th bid for WHO observer status |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/i_latestdetail.asp?id=38428 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630173746/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/i_latestdetail.asp?id=38428 |archive-date=30 June 2006 |access-date=11 June 2006 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> the ROC has been shut out. In others, it participates under other names, including [[Chinese Taipei]] (in the [[International Olympic Committee]] or [[APEC]]) and the "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kimmen and Matsu" (in the [[World Trade Organization]], and often also shortened as "Chinese Taipei"). After nine years of negotiations, members of the WTO completed the conditions on which to allow Taiwan admittance into the multilateral trade organization. At the end of 2011, Jeffery Bader, Assistant United States Trade Representative for China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, led and finalized the final stages of Taiwan's accession to the WTO, which were approved by trade ministers in November in Doha, Qatar. The [[ISO 3166]] directory of names of countries and territories registers Taiwan (TW) separately from and in addition to the People's Republic of China (CN), but lists Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China" based on the name used by the UN under PRC pressure. In [[ISO 3166-2:CN]], Taiwan is also coded CN-71 under China, thus making Taiwan part of China in [[ISO 3166-1]] and [[ISO 3166-2]] categories.

Naming issues surrounding Taiwan/ROC continue to be a contentious issue in non-governmental organizations such as the [[Lions Club]], which faced considerable controversy naming its Taiwanese branch.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yeh |first=Lindy |date=12 July 2002 |title=Taiwan's Lions Club gets another temporary name |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/07/12/147941 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823223211/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/07/12/147941 |archive-date=23 August 2006 |access-date=11 June 2006 |newspaper=[[Taipei Times]] |page=3}}</ref>

==== Relations with the ROC and position on Taiwan ====
{{As of|2024|1|15}}, the countries who maintain formal diplomatic relations with the ROC are:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!#
!Country
!Date
|-
|1
|{{flag|Guatemala}}
|{{dts|15 June 1933}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Relaciones Diplomáticas de Guatemala |url=https://www.minex.gob.gt/DirectorioPaisesRelacion.aspx |access-date=24 July 2021 |language=es}}</ref>
|-
|—
|{{flag|Holy See}}
|{{dts|23 October 1942}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diplomatic relations of the Holy See |url=https://holyseemission.org/contents/mission/diplomatic-relations-of-the-holy-see.php |access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref>
|-
|2
|{{flag|Haiti}}
|{{dts|25 April 1956}}<ref name="taiwantoday.tw">{{Cite web |title=Taiwan, Haiti celebrate 65 years of diplomatic relations |url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2&post=198803 |access-date=16 April 2023 |website=Taiwan Today| date=26 April 2021 }}</ref>
|-
|3
|{{flag|Paraguay}}
|{{dts|8 July 1957}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 May 2019 |title=Paraguay y Taiwán: Historia de sus relaciones |language=es |url=https://www.ultimahora.com/paraguay-y-taiwan-historia-sus-relaciones-n2820178 |access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref>
|-
|4
|{{flag|Eswatini}}{{ref|i|1}}
|{{dts|16 September 1968}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 September 2018 |title=R.O.C. (Taiwan) Ambassador reiterates robust friendship and cooperation between Taiwan and Eswatini |url=https://www.taiwanembassy.org/sz_en/post/2914.html |access-date=20 October 2023 |website=Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Kingdom of Eswatini}}</ref>
|-
|5
|{{flag|Tuvalu}}
|{{dts|19 September 1979}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 November 2021 |title=A Special Relationship |url=https://www.fightfortuvalu.com/posts/a-special-relationship |access-date=12 July 2022 |archive-date=12 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712131504/https://www.fightfortuvalu.com/posts/a-special-relationship |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|6
|{{flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
|{{dts|15 April 1981}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diplomatic and Consular List |url=https://foreign.gov.vc/foreign/images/stories/DiplomaticRelations/Updated_Diplomatic_List_Revised-as_at_February_2020_1_1.pdf |access-date=11 July 2023 |pages=104–112}}</ref>
|-
|7
|{{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}
|{{dts|23 September 1983}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Diplomatic Relations |url=https://www.foreign.gov.kn/2906-2/ |access-date=1 April 2021 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saint Kitts and Nevis}}</ref>
|-
|8
|{{flag|Saint Lucia}}{{ref|i|2}}
|{{dts|13 January 1984}}<ref>{{Cite book |title=Latin America Report |publisher=[Executive Office of the President], Federal Broadcast Information Service, Joint Publications Research Service |year=1984 |volume=29 |issue=84 |pages=108}}</ref>
|-
|9
|{{flag|Belize}}
|{{dts|11 October 1989}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diplomatic Relations |url=http://www.mfa.gov.bz/images/documents/DIPLOMATIC%20RELATIONS.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230194831/http://www.mfa.gov.bz/images/documents/DIPLOMATIC%20RELATIONS.pdf |archive-date=30 December 2017 |access-date=30 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
|10
|{{flag|Marshall Islands}}
|{{dts|20 November 1998}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Listing of All Countries Which Have Established Diplomatic Relations With the Republic of the Marshall Islands (As of 13 February 2019) |url=https://www.rmiembassyus.org/about-2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718175857/https://www.rmiembassyus.org/about-2 |archive-date=18 July 2023 |access-date=3 September 2023}}</ref>
|-
|11
|{{flag|Palau}}
|{{dts|29 December 1999}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Countries with which Palau has Diplomatic Relations |url=https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/migrated/oia/islands/upload/PalauDipRelations.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317135821/https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/migrated/oia/islands/upload/PalauDipRelations.pdf |archive-date=17 March 2016 |access-date=4 April 2022 |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior}}</ref>
|}
: 1.{{note|i}} Until 2018 called Swaziland.
: 2.{{note|i}} Established relations with the PRC on 8 September 1997,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.stlucia.gov.lc/pr1997/saint_lucia_establishes_diplomatic_relations_with_china.htm |title=Saint Lucia Establishes Diplomatic Relations with China |website=stlucia.gov.lc |access-date=22 January 2025}}</ref> but restored ties with the ROC on 26 April 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 May 2007 |title=Saint Lucia set to rejoin ROC allies |url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=10,23,45,10&post=14468 |website=Taiwan Today |access-date=15 February 2024}}</ref>

The following countries have unofficial economic and cultural relations with the ROC: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Somaliland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States (including Guam), and Vietnam.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

As of January 2023, fifty-one countries recognise Taiwan as a part of China: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Costa Rica, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Estonia, France, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, the Maldives, Moldova, Montenegro, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Uganda, and Vietnam. Other countries have not committed to or have not made public statements indicating a position on the question.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Many 'One China's': Multiple Approaches to Taiwan and China |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2023/02/the-many-one-chinas-multiple-approaches-to-taiwan-and-china?lang=en |website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace |language=en}}</ref>