Taiwan independence movement

The Taiwan independence movement is a political movement which advocates the formal declaration of Taiwan as an independent and sovereign state, as opposed to Chinese unification in accordance with the One China policy or the status quo of co-existence in cross-strait relations.

Taiwan's political status can be regarded as ambiguous. Mainland China, under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), claims the island of Taiwan as a province of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The Republic of China (ROC) consisting of Taiwan and other islands under its control exercises full autonomy in its internal governance and already conducts official diplomatic relations with and is recognized by 11 member states of the United Nations and the Holy See. The use of "independence" for Taiwan can be ambiguous. If some supporters articulate that they agree to the independence of Taiwan, they may either be referring to the notion of formally creating an independent Taiwanese state called the Republic of Taiwan or to the notion that Taiwan has become synonymous with the current Republic of China and is already independent (as reflected in the concept of Huadu). Since 2016, the current government, led by the independent-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has asserted that there is no need for a formal push for independence through legal means, maintaining that Taiwan is already an independent country called ROC.

The Taiwan independence movement is supported by the DPP and the broader Pan-Green Coalition given the threat posed to its sovereignty, regionalist identity, liberal democratic system and human rights. Radical activists advocate the ideal goal of de-Sinicization and Taiwanization of the island and society, although that sentiment is not always shared by the Pan-Green establishment, which favors a more pragmatic status quo under the ROC. The movement is opposed by the Kuomintang (KMT) and the broader Pan-Blue Coalition, which seeks to retain the somewhat ambiguous status quo of the ROC under the so-called "1992 Consensus" or gradually "reunify" with mainland China at some point under the ROC. The process for a constitutional amendment in ROC or national territory alternation must be initiated by one-fourth (25%) of the members of the Legislative Yuan (the unicameral parliament of the ROC), then passed by the Legislative Yuan with at least three-fourths (75%) members attending and by a three-fourths (75%) supermajority, then approved by majority popular vote in a referendum.

The Chinese Communist Party and the People's Republic of China strongly oppose Taiwanese independence, believing that Taiwan and mainland China are two portions of a single country's territory, and regards any moves toward independence as separatism and potentially triggering a military response under the Anti-Secession Law. According to the PRC's interpretation, the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Declaration and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 establish that Taiwan is part of the PRC under international law. The PRC has officially maintained its position of "peaceful unification" of Taiwan under a "one country, two systems" formula but does not rule out using military force, if necessary, to "reunify" the island should formal independence be declared. Under 2024 legal guidelines, the PRC regards advocating for Taiwan independence, regardless of jurisdiction, as a criminal offense that can be subject to capital punishment.