OneChina

One China is a term used in international relations to describe the idea that there is only one sovereign state named China. In its most common usage, it asserts that Taiwan is part of China and that the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the sole legitimate government representing China. The status of Taiwan and the competing claims of the PRC and the Republic of China (ROC) have been central to cross-strait politics since 1949.

The One China principle and the related One China policy are distinct but connected concepts. The PRC regards the One China principle as a non-negotiable condition for international relations: states seeking official diplomatic ties with the PRC must not recognize Taiwan as a separate nation. The One China policy describes how other states handle formal recognition of the PRC while often maintaining unofficial, substantive relations with Taiwan. Many countries adhere to the policy by recognizing PRC sovereignty and engaging with Taiwan through de facto channels rather than official diplomatic missions.

Historical background includes the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, when the PRC governed mainland China and the ROC retreated to Taiwan. In 1971, the PRC was recognized by the United Nations as the representative of China, and in 1979 many countries switched official diplomatic recognition from the ROC to the PRC, while retaining unofficial ties with Taiwan under mechanisms such as the Taiwan Relations Act in the United States.

Domestic and international implications are ongoing. The policy shapes Taiwan’s international space, cross-strait diplomacy, and Taiwan’s domestic politics, where parties differ on how to approach unification or independence, and it remains a core factor in regional security dynamics.

See also: 1992 Consensus, cross-strait relations, Taiwan Relations Act, Taiwan Strait.