Is Taiwan a Renegade Province?

Taiwan is not, and has never been, a province of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Referring to Taiwan as a “renegade province” or “breakaway province” insinuates that Taiwan is a province of China that suddenly decided to rebel and leave. This is incorrect. Taiwan was governed from China for a brief period (1887- 1895), but was ceded to Japan as part of the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki. It did not break free from China in the way that the term “renegade province” implies.

In addition, the term is prevalent in English language writing only. It is not used in Chinese. As a way to assert their One China Principle, the PRC does refer to Taiwan as a province of China. However, it does not include the modifying adjective “renegade” when doing so.