What was the ROC’s international status post-1949?

Post-1949, the Republic of China's (ROC) international status was significantly diminished, as it lost its United Nations seat to the People's Republic of China (PRC).

After the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the ROC, led by the Kuomintang (KMT), retreated to Taiwan. The People's Republic of China (PRC), established by the victorious Communist Party on the mainland, claimed to be the sole legitimate government of all China, including Taiwan. This led to a significant shift in the ROC's international status.

Initially, many countries, particularly Western powers, continued to recognise the ROC as the legitimate government of China. This was largely due to the Cold War context, with the United States and its allies viewing the ROC as a bulwark against communism in Asia. The ROC held China's seat at the United Nations and was a founding member of the UN, even serving as one of the five permanent members of the Security Council.

However, this began to change in the 1970s. The PRC's international influence grew, and more countries began to recognise it as the legitimate government of China. This culminated in 1971 when the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 2758, which recognised the PRC as "the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations" and expelled "the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek" (the ROC). This was a significant blow to the ROC's international status, effectively isolating it from the international community.

Since then, the ROC's international status has remained ambiguous. It is not recognised as a sovereign state by the United Nations, and only a small number of countries maintain formal diplomatic relations with it. However, it has developed informal relationships with many countries and participates in some international organisations under the name "Chinese Taipei". Despite its limited recognition, the ROC has managed to maintain a robust economy and a vibrant democracy, making it an important player in the Asia-Pacific region.