Taiwan independence movement

The Taiwan independence movement is a political movement centered on the status of Taiwan. Supporters advocate for a formal declaration of Taiwan as a sovereign, independent state. This position stands in opposition to Chinese unification under the One China policy. It also differs from the current status quo of co-existence in cross-strait relations. Currently, the political status of Taiwan is considered ambiguous. The People's Republic of China (PRC), controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), claims Taiwan is a province of the PRC. Meanwhile, the Republic of China (ROC) exercises full autonomy over its internal governance.

There are different ways to interpret the idea of "independence" in this context. Some supporters want to create a new state called the Republic of Taiwan. Others believe Taiwan is already an independent country under its current name, the ROC. Since 2016, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has led the government. The DPP asserts that no formal legal push for independence is necessary. They maintain that Taiwan is already an independent, sovereign nation. This group is part of the Pan-Green Coalition, which focuses on regional identity and human rights.

Changing the legal status of the nation is a complex constitutional process. The ROC constitution currently includes mainland China as part of its territory. To change this, one-fourth of the Legislative Yuan must initiate the process. This is the unicameral parliament of the ROC. Next, at least three-fourths of the members must attend a vote. A three-fourths supermajority must then pass the measure. Finally, the decision must be approved by a majority of the people in a referendum.

Taiwan has a deep history of different ruling powers. For over 6,000 years, indigenous Austronesian-speaking people lived on the island. Later, nations like Spain, the Netherlands, and Japan occupied the territory. During the Japanese colonial period, Japanization policies were used to influence local elites. This led to resistance from both indigenous peoples and native-born Han Chinese-Taiwanese. In the 1930s, Mao Zedong supported the independence movement to free Taiwan from Japanese rule. After World War II ended in 1945, the ROC Army temporarily occupied the island.

Following the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the Kuomintang (KMT) retreated to Taiwan. The KMT had ruled the ROC since 1928. From 1949 until 1987, Taiwan lived under a period of martial law. This era included the White Terror, where many dissidents were persecuted. The February 28 Incident in 1947 was a significant and violent turning point. During this time, the ROC government claimed it was the legitimate ruler of all of China. This stance was used to justify authoritarian measures against local populations.

Political opposition to the KMT grew as the movement modernized. In the 1950s, a Republic of Taiwan Provisional Government was established in Japan. Later, the movement became a major part of the democracy movement in the 1970s. This led to the formation of the DPP to represent dissident causes. The Kuomintang and the Pan-Blue Coalition oppose independence. They prefer the "1992 Consensus" or gradual reunification under the ROC. They seek to maintain the current ambiguous status quo.

The People's Republic of China strongly opposes any move toward independence. The PRC views Taiwan as part of a single country. They consider independence movements to be acts of separatism. Under the Anti-Secession Law, the PRC may use military force to ensure reunification. They have historically promoted a "peaceful unification" through a "one country, two systems" formula. However, the PRC does not rule out military action if formal independence is declared. Under 2024 legal guidelines, the PRC views advocating for independence as a criminal offense.