Republic of Taiwan
Republic of Taiwan can refer to either a historical, no-longer-existent republic or a proposed state.
Historical: Republic of Formosa
The Republic of Formosa (Chinese: 臺灣民主國, lit. "Taiwan Democratic State"; official English name: Formosan Republic, Taiwan Republic) was a short lived republic that existed on Taiwan in 1895, between the removal of Qing forces and the establishment of Japanese control of the island following the Treaty of Shimonoseki. It is sometimes mentioned as the first Asian republic to have been proclaimed, at least nominally.
The republic was proclaimed by a group of pro-Qing high officials and members of the local gentry, many of whom fled the island upon Japan's invasion. On May 24, 1895 an English translation of its declaration of independence was sent to all the embassies on the island, followed by a ceremony the next day. It managed to issue stamps under the auspices of the republic.
In spite of the similarity in name, modern-day proponents of a "Republic of Taiwan" tend to disavow a connection between the two, thus neither claiming a revival of that entity nor regarding themselves as political offspring of that movement. The reason for this is that the first Republic of Taiwan was created as an act of loyalty to a government on mainland China while modern supporters of the Republic of Taiwan tend to wish to distance themselves from mainland China.
See also: History of Taiwan
Presidents of the Republic of Taiwan
Proposed State: Republic of Taiwan
The Republic of Taiwan (臺灣共和國; Taiwanese: Tâi-oân Kiōng-hô-kok) is a goal of some supporters of Taiwan independence in creating a Taiwanese state unambiguously separate from China, covering (at most) the areas currently controlled by the Republic of China (i.e., Taiwan, Penghu, Quemoy and Matsu Islands). In this sense, sometimes the State of Taiwan (臺灣國) is used to avoid prejudging a republican polity.
Historically the creation of a state by this name from Japan-ruled Taiwan was also a goal of the Taiwanese Communist Party of the late 1920s. Unlike current formulations and in line with the thinking of Comintern, such a state would be a proletarian one.
Modern supporters of a Republic of Taiwan claim that the current situation in which Taiwan is
ruled by a government which is officially named the Republic of China creates confusion
both internationally with China and in the minds of Taiwanese as to their actual loyalties and prevents Taiwan from becoming a normal nation. Opponents of a Republic of Taiwan claim that
rejecting the name Republic of China would almost certainly trigger a war with the People's Republic of China and that the both the Republic of China and the concept of China have a grand history and culture from which Taiwan should not separate itself from. Furthermore, they argue that confused foreigners is hardly a good reason to change national identity, and that Taiwan's security lies with economic and cultural integration with mainland China rather than in drawing clear national identity distinctions between mainland China and Taiwan.
The creation of a Republic of Taiwan is formally the goal of the Taiwan Solidarity Union and former President Lee Teng-hui. Although the ruling Democratic Progressive Party is sympathetic to both the idea of the Republic of Taiwan and Taiwan independence, the DPP has tried to create a formula by which a sovereign independent Taiwan is identified with the Republic of China and its symbols. The pan-blue coalition tends to oppose the idea of a Republic of Taiwan and Taiwan independence, but most support a sovereign Republic of China which is currently separate from the People's Republic of China.
While many believe the formal declaration of a Republic of Taiwan would likely trigger a military response from the People's Republic of China, some among the independentists believe such a response would be ineffective with or without subsequent involvement by the United States.
See also: political status of Taiwan
