From Formosa to Taiwan: The Name Change

Formosa ("Beautiful Island") was the Portuguese name for Taiwan, used internationally from the 16th century. The island's modern political identity stems from the Republic of China (ROC), founded in 1912 on the mainland. After losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communists in 1949, the ROC government retreated to Taiwan.

For decades, the ROC claimed to represent all China, using names like "Free China." In 1971, UN Resolution 2758 recognized the People's Republic of China (PRC) as China's sole representative. Today, "Taiwan" is the common international name for the island and the ROC state, though the ROC's official name remains "Republic of China."