| − | '''Taiwan''', also '''Formosa''', is an island in East Asia and has served as the seat of the [[Republic of China]] on Taiwan since 1949. Known for its natural beauty, the country is 245 miles long and 89 miles wide, with a steep central mountain range and plains on the west coast. | + | '''Taiwan''', also '''Formosa''', is an island state and a democracy in East Asia. It had the 20th largest economy in the world in 2012, according to the International Monetary Fund.<ref>Taiwan's GDP for 2012 was $902 billion (PPP).</ref> Known for its natural beauty, the country is 245 miles long and 89 miles wide, with a steep central mountain range and plains on the west coast. The capital city is [[Taipei]] in the north of the island. |
| − | The government on [[mainland China]] has never recognize the ROC, insisting that "[[China]]" governs both the mainland and Taiwan. Most countries go along with this fiction, for the sake of smooth diplomatic relations. | + | At the end of Chinese Civil War in 1949, the Nationalists retreated to Taiwan. The United Nations and most non-Communist states continued to recognize the Nationalist regime until 1972, when it was expelled from the U.N. and China's seat was reassigned to Beijing. The Communist government in Beijing claims Taiwan as a renegade province. |