Wikipedia:Words to watch about Cross-Strait Relations

Cross-Strait politics

Wikipedia avoids bias on Taiwan (and Tibet) in all articles, as usual. Although the United Nations [since 1971] and many countries officially recognize the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole and legitimate government of China, in a broad sense. [In particular, this is inclusive of mainland China and more recently also of Hong Kong and Macau, while China's invasion of Tibet is treated as legitimate or illegitimate to differing degrees by various other countries. In English, Tibet is not treated as part of China. At any rate, 12 formally recognize RoC as the legitimate government, and many more recognize RoC with some status less formally.] Wikipedia must remain neutral and therefore not link "China" in the broad sense to any political body or government, especially not territory beyond the control of the PRC, notably Taiwan and neighboring islands, which are under the control of the Republic of China (RoC). [Also correct at English Wikipedia.]

It is better to use "Beijing" for "Government of PRC". [On English Wikipedia, that sort of city-level metonymy (using a city name to stand in for a country or its government) is actually discouraged as frequently confusing and an example of news style, in which Wikipedia does not write. "Chinese government" and "government of China" are normal in most contexts in English to refer to the PRC, or "government of the People's Republic of China" or "PRC government" if specificity is contextually required.] "Communist Chinese government" or "government of communist China" may be taken negatively and are better avoided. [Also correct at English Wikipedia.]

When "Republic of China" is more accurate, "Taiwan" (the island name) is better avoided, especially in reference to RoC government, law, or politics. For maintaining Wikipedia's neutral point of view, on Chinese reunification versus Taiwan independence [same goes for the proposed "one country, two systems" compromise], we only use real government names for the government currently controlling the islands Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. [On English Wikipedia, we accept the general English-usage norm that "Taiwan" and "Taiwanese" are in most contexts considered synonymous with "Republic of China", and we do not avoid their usage in that sense. We may use "Republic of China" or "RoC" when it is contextually important to be clear that we are referring to a government body not to a country/state, or to avoid ambiguity, as when the island of Taiwan as a geographical/geological subject is discussed in the same material.]

Another important note: Wikipedia treats RoC and PRC equally. The two parties are not conflated with each other, or one treated as part of or subordinate to the other. [Also correct at English Wikipedia.]

But to remain neutral, Wikipedia remains silent about whether PRC and RoC are unified or divided. Please be careful while editing about this. [In English Wikipedia, this is not true at all. We are quite clear that these are separate countries, with regard to general international relations, though RoC is not recognized by every other country as sovereign. Rather, English Wikipedia does not engage in any opinionating or promotionalism with regard to any side in Chinese unification disputes, any more than we would in any other topic.]

When writing about government- or state-related issues, the official names "People's Republic of China" and "Republic of China" are most appropriate. For example, "Hu Jintao is president of the People's Republic of China" instead of "president of China". [This is not true on English Wikipedia. The full title is used in the lead sentence of articles on the office and officeholders, and when clarity is needed, but our article on the office is at President of China, and this shorter title is sufficiently clear in most English usage.] Similarly: "Only citizens of the Free Area of the Republic of China can vote in the Republic of China presidential election". [This one is actually correct on English Wikipedia, too, because both the eligible area and the government body are strictly defined legal entities in the RoC constitution, not matters of general English-usage.]

"Taiwan" (the island) should not be written about as an independent state or as part of the PRC; treating it as part of the RoC is appropriate. [This is not entirely accurate for English Wikipedia, which routinely uses "Taiwan" to refer to the RoC, following overwhelming usage this way in English-language sources. As noted above, we would avoid this only when the name of the government, or its abbreviation, is better for clarity in English.]

With regard to the political status of Taiwan, do add notes about the complexity of Taiwan's geopolitical situation where appropriate to do so. [In particular, see "Chinese Taipei", below, which often has to be explained to English-Wikipedia readers, at least in a footnote.] So, "Taiwan" is appropriate to refer to the island and to RoC's de jure Taiwan Province. [As already noted, on English Wikipedia, it is also usually appropriate to use "Taiwan" to mean "RoC".] Linking the name to "Taiwan Province, People's Republic of China" and shortened versions like "Taiwan, China will frequently be taken as offensive are are non-neutral, so only use them when specifically referring to the the PRC's notional provincial claim. [Also correct at English Wikipedia.]

However, we can use "Taiwan" as an stand-in for "RoC" in articles unrelated to government, law, or politics. [English Wikipedia draws no such bright line cut-off, and there arguably are no articles about RoC that are truly "unrelated" in every way to government, law, or politics.]

As in common practice, Wikipedia will not support or oppose the two statements below:

1. The Constitution of the PRC states that Taiwan is part of the PRC. [PRC also asserts sovereignty over Hainan (also claimed by RoC), Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet.]
2. The Constitution of the RoC states that the ROC includes mainland China and Outer Mongolia. [RoC also claims Tannu Uriankhai, now forming parts of modern-day Mongolia and the Russian Federation; Tibet; and Badakhshan territory now parts of Afghanistan and Tajikistan.]

[This is true on English Wikipedia as well, of course, since WP doesn't take positions supporting or opposing political or other stances of any kind, and there is no doubt as to what is actually stated in published constitutions.]

With regard to a non-governmental organization or an international activity, use the appropriate official name that pertains in the context. For example, use "Chinese Taipei", instead of "Taiwan" or "RoC", to refer to Taiwanese competitors in the Olympics.

In a geographical context, Taiwan (as an island and its neighbors, apart from politico-legal matters) is contrasted with mainland China, the preferred term for the territory claimed by RoC but controlled by the PRC. Hong Kong and Macau are generally not within the definition of "mainland China", although they are under PRC control. [Generally also correct at English Wikipedia, though other terminology is permissible, such as "the Chinese mainland". On English Wikipedia, "mainland" is not capitalized, following the lead rule of MOS:CAPS: it is not consistently capitalized across almost all the reliable sources, so we default to lowercase.]

Importantly, some of the above guidelines do not fully apply to articles on history, especially before the Chinese Civil War and RoC control of Taiwan. [Though none of this Chinese-Wikipedia material constitutes a guideline at all on English Wikipedia, the principle here is also correct on English Wikipedia. As one example, "Taiwan" was also the name of a prefecture of pre-revolutionary China, and English Wikipedia refers to it as "Taiwan Prefecture" for disambiguation from other uses of "Taiwan".]