You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Chinese. (May 2022)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Mainland China | |
---|---|
Largest cities | |
Official language | Standard Chinese |
Ethnic groups | see Ethnic groups in China |
Demonym(s) | |
Area | |
• Total | 9,596,961 km2 (3,705,407 sq mi) |
Population | |
• 2019 census | 1,400,050,000 |
• Density | 147/km2 (380.7/sq mi) |
Currency |
|
Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard Time) |
Driving side | right |
Calling code | +86 |
ISO 3166 code | CN |
Internet TLD | |
Today part of | People's Republic of China |
Mainland China | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Simplified Chinese | 中国大陆 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 中國大陸 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Literal meaning | Continental China | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 中国 内 地 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 中國 內 地 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Literal meaning | Inland China | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mainland Area of the Republic of China | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 中华民国大陆地区 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 中華民國大陸地區 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
"Mainland China",also referred to as "the Chinese mainland",is a geopolitical term defined as the territory under direct administration of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War. In addition to the geographical mainland,the geopolitical sense of the term includes islands such as Hainan,Chongming,and Zhoushan. [1] By convention,territories outside of mainland China include:
The term is widely used in all of the above territories as well as internationally,including by many Overseas Chinese communities.
In 1949,the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Liberation Army had largely defeated the Kuomintang (KMT)'s National Revolutionary Army in the Chinese Civil War. This forced the Kuomintang to relocate the government and institution of the Republic of China to the relative safety of Taiwan,an island which was placed under its control after the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II in 1945. With the establishment of the People's Republic of China on October 1,1949,the CCP-controlled government saw itself as the sole legitimate government of China, [5] competing with the claims of the Republic of China,whose authority is now limited to Taiwan and other islands. This resulted in a situation in which two co-existing governments competed for international legitimacy and recognition as the "government of China". With the democratisation of Taiwan in the 1990s and the rise of the Taiwanese independence movement,some people began simply using the term "China" instead. [6]
Due to their status as colonies of foreign states during the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949,the phrase "mainland China" excludes Hong Kong and Macau. [7] Since the return of Hong Kong and Macau to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 and 1999,respectively,the two territories have retained their legal,political,and economic systems. The territories also have their distinct identities. Therefore,"mainland China" generally continues to exclude these territories,because of the "one country,two systems" policy adopted by the Chinese government towards the regions. [8] The term is also used in economic indicators,such as the IMD Competitiveness Report. International news media often use "China" to refer only to mainland China or the People's Republic of China.
The Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China (Chinese :中华人民共和国出境入境管理法) defines two terms in Chinese that are translated to "mainland": [9]
In the PRC,usage of the two terms is not strictly interchangeable. To emphasise the One-China policy and not give the ROC "equal footing" in cross-strait relations,the term must be used in PRC's official contexts with reference to Taiwan (with the PRC referring to itself as the "mainland side" dealing with the "Taiwan side").[ citation needed ] But in terms of Hong Kong and Macau,the PRC government refers to itself as "the Central People's Government".[ citation needed ]
In the People's Republic of China,the term 内地 ('inland') is often contrasted with the term 境外 ('outside the border') for things outside the mainland region.[ citation needed ] Examples include "Administration of Foreign-funded Banks" (中华人民共和国外资银行管理条例;中華人民共和國外資銀行管理條例) or the "Measures on Administration of Representative Offices of Foreign Insurance Institutions" (外国保险机构驻华代表机构管理办法;外國保險機構駐華代表機構管理辦法). [8]
Hainan is an island,but is nevertheless commonly considered to be part of the "mainland" politically,because its government,legal and political systems do not differ from the rest of the PRC. Nonetheless,Hainanese people still refer to the geographic mainland as "the mainland" and call its residents "mainlanders". [11] [ better source needed ]
Before 1949,the Kinmen and Matsu islands,were jointly governed with the rest of Fujian Province under successive Chinese governments. The two territories are generally considered to belong to the same historical region,Fujian Province,which has been divided since 1949 as a result of the civil war. However,because they are not controlled by the PRC,they are not included as part of "mainland China."
Hong Kong and Macau are both territories of the PRC. However,due to the One Country,Two Systems policy,the two regions maintain a high degree of autonomy,hence they are not governed as part of mainland China.
Geologically speaking,Hong Kong and Macau are both connected to mainland China in certain areas (e.g. the north of the New Territories). Additionally,the islands contained within Hong Kong (e.g. Hong Kong Island) and Macau are much closer to mainland China than Taiwan and Hainan,and are much smaller.
In Hong Kong and Macau,the terms "mainland China" and "mainlander" are frequently used for people from PRC-governed areas (i.e. not Taiwan,Hong Kong,and Macau). The Chinese term Neidi (內地),meaning the inland but still translated mainland in English,is commonly applied by SAR governments to represent non-SAR areas of PRC,including Hainan province and coastal regions of mainland China,such as "Constitutional and Mainland Affairs" (政制及內地事務局) [12] and Immigration Departments. [13] In the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (as well as the Mainland and Macau Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement) the CPG also uses the Chinese characters 内地 "inner land",with the note that they refer to the "customs territory of China". [14]
This article contains translated text and needs attention from someone fluent in Chinese and English.(April 2023) |
References to the PRC and other lost continental territories as the mainland began appearing in Taiwan state documents as early as 1954. [15] [16] [17]
Legal definitions followed in the 1990s. The 1991 Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China stated that "the handling of people's rights and obligations and other affairs between the free area and the mainland can be specially stipulated by law",and used the legal term "mainland area" without defining its geographical boundaries. [18] The 1992 Regulations on the Relations between the People in Taiwan and the Mainland defined "Taiwan" as areas controlled by the ROC and "mainland" as "the territory of the Republic of China." [19] The related Cross-Strait Act called those under PRC jurisdiction - excluding those in Hong Kong and Macau - as "people of the mainland area",and used "free area of the Republic of China" to describe areas under ROC control. [20] The issue on the mainland's territory also stated in the Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 328 in 1993. [2] [21] In 2012,the Supreme Court of the Republic of China's judgment #900 labeled the Macao Special Administrative Region as the "Mainland Macau Area". [22] [3] 2002 amendments to the Implementation Rules of the Regulations on People Relations between Taiwan and Mainland China defined the mainland as areas claimed but not controlled by the ROC,corresponding to "areas under control of the Chinese Communists" (within the de facto borders of the People's Republic of China). [1] [23] [24]
Views of the term "mainland China" (中國大陸) vary on Taiwan. The KMT had previously referred to the territories under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) by several different names,e.g. "(territory controlled by the) Communist bandits","occupied/unfree area (of China)","Communist China" (as opposed to either "Nationalist China" or "Democratic China"),"Red China" (as opposed to "Blue China"),and "mainland China (area)".[ citation needed ] In modern times,many of these terms have fallen out of use. The terms "mainland China" (中國大陸) or "the mainland" (大陸) still remain in popular use,but some also simply use the term "China" (中國). The former term is generally preferred by the Pan-Blue Coalition led by the KMT,while the latter term is preferred by the Pan-Green Coalition led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP),which opposes the term "mainland" and its suggestion that Taiwan is part of China. This has caused many political debates. [25] [26]
Other geography-related terms which are used to avoid mentioning the political status of the PRC and ROC.
Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Jyutping | Hokkien POJ | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
海峡两岸 | 海峽兩岸 | Hǎixiáliǎng'àn | Hoi2 haap6 loeng5 ngon6 | Hái-kiap lióng-gān | The physical shores on both sides of the straits,may be translated as "two shores". |
两岸关系 | 兩岸關係 | liǎng'àn guānxì | loeng5 ngon6 gwaan1 hai6 | lióng-gān koan-hē | Reference to the Taiwan Strait (cross-Strait relations,literally "relations between the two sides/shores [of the Strait of Taiwan]"). |
两岸三地 | 兩岸三地 | liǎng'àn sāndì | loeng5 ngon6 saam1 dei6 | lióng-gān sam-tè | An extension of this is the phrase "two shores,three places",with "three places" meaning mainland China,Taiwan,and either Hong Kong or Macau. |
两岸四地 | 兩岸四地 | liǎng'àn sìdì | loeng5 ngon6 sei3 dei6 | lióng-gān sù-tè | When referring to either Hong Kong or Macau,or "two shores,four places" when referring to both Hong Kong and Macau. |
The special administrative regions (SAR) of the People's Republic of China are one of four types of province-level divisions of the People's Republic of China directly under the control of its Central People's Government, being integral areas of the country. As a region, they possess the highest degree of autonomy from China's central government. However, despite the relative autonomy that the Central People's Government offers the special administrative regions, the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee remains capable of enforcing laws for the special administrative regions.
The Chinese people, or simply Chinese, are people or ethnic groups identified with China, usually through ethnicity, nationality, citizenship, or other affiliation.
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) is a cabinet-level administrative agency under the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The MAC is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of the Cross-Strait relations policy which targets mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
The proposed National Unification Promotion Law of the People's Republic of China is a document that appeared in early 2004 as a suggestion to create formal a legal basis for the People's Republic of China's unification with Taiwan. It was authored by a Chinese scholar Yu Yuanzhou (余元州), a professor from the Jianghan University in Wuhan who does not have a formal governmental position. Although no formal legislative action has been taken on the document, it was widely discussed in China. The reactions to the proposed document was mixed, with some, mainly in Taiwan, saying it provided evidence of hostile intent on the part of the PRC, while others praising it for proposing flexible solutions to the intractable conflict.
The free area of the Republic of China, also known as the "Taiwan Area of the Republic of China", the "Tai-Min Area " or simply the "Taiwan Area", is a term used by the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to refer to the territories under its actual control. It is also used as a legal term written in the Additional articles of the ROC constitution and Cross-Strait Act.
Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement are economic and trade agreement between the separate customs territories within the People's Republic of China.
"Taiwan, China", "Taiwan, Province of China", and "Taipei, China" are controversial political terms that claim Taiwan and its associated territories as a province or territory of the People's Republic of China.
Chinese nationality law details the conditions by which a person holds nationality of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The primary law governing these requirements is the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China, which came into force on September 10, 1980.
Taiwan Province, PRC refers to a notional administrative division claimed by the People's Republic of China. The PRC constitution asserts Taiwan as part of its territories although the PRC has never controlled Taiwan since the PRC's establishment in 1949. The territory of the claimed province, including the entire island of Taiwan, is in actuality administered by the Republic of China (ROC) but is not coextensive with the smaller Taiwan Province of the ROC.
The Exit & Entry Permit for Taiwan, Republic of China is the document for the bearer to enter into and/or depart from the Taiwan Area, namely Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. Currently, there are several types of Exit & Entry Permit that reflect the bearer's residency status. The permit is issued by the National Immigration Agency of the Republic of China (Taiwan). For different purposes, the permit is also known as:
The cross-strait charters are special flights between Taiwan and mainland China, across the Taiwan Strait. After the Chinese Civil War, no direct flights were allowed between Taiwan and mainland China; this remained the case until 2003. Passengers had to transfer in a third city, such as Hong Kong, to complete their trip.
Taiwanese nationality law details the conditions in which a person is a national of the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan. The Nationality Act is based on the principle of jus sanguinis, children born to at least one Taiwanese parent are automatically nationals at birth. Foreign nationals with permanent residency in Taiwan may naturalize after continuously living in the country for at least five (5) years. Certain foreign immediate family members of Taiwanese nationals may naturalize after continuously living in the country for at least three (3) years.
Visitors to the Republic of China (Taiwan) must obtain a visa or authorization in advance, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries whose nationals are eligible for visa on arrival. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
The Republic of China (ROC) took part in the opening ceremony of the 1924 Summer Olympics, but its four athletes, all of whom were tennis players, withdrew from competition. The ROC participated in its first Olympic Games in 1932 under the name of China. After the World War II, the ROC competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics. The ROC delegation at the 1948 Summer Games is the only ROC delegation composed of athletes from both mainland China and island of Taiwan in Olympic history. In 1932 and 1936, athletes from the island of Taiwan competed as part of the team of Japan.
The Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents, also known as the Taiwan Compatriot Permit, is a type of travel document issued by the Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to Republic of China nationals (ROC) who hold household registration in Taiwan. The document is issued by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). Since the identity documents issued by the government of the Republic of China are not recognized in the PRC, the permit serves as both the main travel document and identity document for Taiwanese people in the PRC territory and is used on all occasions in lieu of a Taiwan passport.
The Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau, colloquially known as a Two-way Permit or EEP is issued to Chinese nationals with residency in Mainland China as a travel document for the sole purpose to travel the Chinese Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau. The Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security is responsible for the issuing of Two-way Permits and exit endorsements.
Mainland Chinese or mainlanders are Chinese people who live in or have recently emigrated from mainland China, defined as the territory governed by the People's Republic of China (PRC) except for Hong Kong, Macau, and the partly-PRC-controlled South China Sea Islands, and also excluding certain territories that are claimed by the PRC but not controlled, namely Taiwan a.k.a. the "Republic of China" (ROC), which is a state with limited recognition, and other associated territories that are ruled by Taiwan. The term also refers to historical groups of people of Chinese origin who immigrated to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan during the 20th century, especially in the context of specific historical events.
A national without household registration (NWOHR) is a person with Republic of China nationality who does not have household registration in Taiwan. Nationals with this status may be subject to immigration controls when entering the Taiwan Area, do not have automatic residence rights there, cannot vote in Taiwanese elections, and are exempt from conscription. Most individuals with this status are children born overseas to Taiwanese citizens. About 60,000 NWOHRs currently hold Taiwanese passports with this status.
The Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, also called Cross-Strait Act, is the law of the Republic of China governing cross-Strait relations.
Relations between the government of Hong Kong and the Republic of China (Taiwan) encompass both when the Republic of China controlled mainland China, and afterwards, when the Republic of China fled to Taiwan.
Article 3: The enforcement areas of Subparagraph 2 of Article 2 of the Act shall refer to areas under control of the Chinese Communists.
綠軍所用的正式名稱,尊重獨立國體的一種正式稱呼,這種稱呼本身也不帶有任何敵意,敵意存在與否其實代表著內戰是否結束,在稱呼上特別要小心
中共控制之地區