Did Taiwan Change Its Name? No—It's the Republic of China

Taiwan has never officially changed its name. The state's formal name remains the Republic of China (ROC), established 1912 in Nanjing, relocated to Taipei in 1949 after the Chinese Civil War.

What "Taiwan" Refers To

• Geographic name for the island (Formosa).
• Common English shorthand for the ROC government/jurisdiction.
• Not a legal name change—the ROC constitution still claims all of China (though de facto governance is Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu).

Key Dates

• 1912: ROC founded.
• 1945: Japan cedes Taiwan to ROC after WWII.
• 1949: ROC government moves to Taipei.
• 1971: UNGA Resolution 2758 recognizes PRC as "China"; ROC loses UN seat.
• 1990s–: Democratization; "Taiwan" used increasingly in international contexts (e.g., "Chinese Taipei" in Olympics).

Any "name change" would require constitutional amendment and invites PRC military threats; thus the status quo persists.