Describe the two China's that emerged after the civil war?
1 Answer
I assume this is the civil war which led to the creation of modern China.
Explanation:
On October 1st 1949, Mao Tse Tung declared the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China. This is the China we know today.
The defeated nationalists, under Chiang Kai Shekh established an alternative, Nationalist China on Formosa which became Taiwan.
Until rapprochement with the West beginning with Nixon and his visit to China it was Nationalist China which was recognised as the legitimate state by the West. This meant communist China was isolated. It was Taiwan which represented China in sporting events such as the Olympics and on the Security Council of the UN.
This was the situation up until the 70's when a combination of realpolitik by the West and the reforms introduced after Mao's death opened up mainland China.
Today two Chinas are represented at the Olympics but it is communist China which occupies the permanent seat at the Security Council and is recognised as the legitimate state of China on the international stage..
