Looking at a map if the world, at least in the US will most likely have Taiwan as a different color than that of China. Problem with this is that the Chinese government, the People's Republic of China (PRC) claims that the island of Taiwan and any other islands are under the rule of the PRC and is supported by all of the nations in the UN expect 23 of them. Taiwan and other neighboring islands under the rule of the Republic of China (ROC) and claim to have rule over mainland China. So how is it that there are two different governments that claim to have jurisdiction of the same lands? The ROC was established in 1911 and was exiled to the island of Taiwan after being defeated in a civil war in 1949 and in the PRC taking over. And in 1971 the ROC lost its seat in the United Nations as the government of China and was replaced with the PRC and other nations started to recognize the PRC capital of Beijing as the capital of China, instead of the ROC capital of Taipei located in Taiwan.
Only 23 nations recognize the ROC as the legitimate government of China and keep diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Because of the PRC's One China policy, the PRC will cut off all diplomatic relations that recognizes Taiwan and the ROC. Because of the tension between China and Taiwan other origination and nations must be careful about their wording and actions when regarding China or Taiwan. For an goverenment to publicly regard Taiwan as country or simply leaving the word People's out of the People's Republic of China will get a reaction from the PRC.
The US and The ROC have an odd relationship. After the ROC was exiled out the China, the communist party in China gained more influenced, which did not sit well the US government and till 1979 the US supported the ROC as the government of China. The US supported the ROC because the PRC were communists and supported other communists in wars like the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Since the ROC's exile to Taiwan, the US has given weapons and military training to Taiwan in hopes of them taking power back from the PRC, but no such power shifts have happened. In 1979 the US recognized the PRC as the sole legal government of China and cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The US embassy that was in Taiwan is now replaced with the American Institute in Taiwan. The US government does not support Taiwan independence, but both are close business partners and allies and there unofficial relationship is dictated by the Taiwan Relation Act of 1979.
China and Taiwan is a rocky subject to debate. It seems now there is no way possible for the Republic of China to ever take power away from the People's Republic of China, which leaves only three options. Taiwan is reunified completely either peacefully or by force, which if by force the US would most likely get involved, Taiwan declares independence which would probably be meet with Chinese retaliation, or the relationships remain the same.
More on Taiwan
http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/
http://www.taiwanembassy.org/US/ct.asp?xItem=266456&CtNode=2297&mp=12&xp1=12
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_status_of_Taiwan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China-United_States_relations#1945-1949
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_the_Republic_of_China
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35855.htm
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=32177#axzz2iISHhuI4
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-announces-that-it-will-recognize-communist-china
Your article makes the subject feel kind of confusing. Could you possibly clarify more on where the powerhouses of the world stand on the issue? Because, as everyone knows, more nuclear missiles=more power, and more power=more sway in the issue.
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