Republic of China (DSKMT)

Republic of China 中華民國
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: National Anthem of the Republic of China
Capital	Nanjing
Largest city	Shanghai
Official languages	Standard Chinese Mongolian Uyghur Tibetan Manchurian
Demonym(s)	Chinese
Government	Unitary Parliamentary Republic
• Premier	Chang Wan-An
Area
• Total	11,400,000,000 km2 (4.4×109 sq mi) (2nd)
Population
• Estimate	1,600,000,000
GDP (PPP)	2024 estimate
• Total	30.41 Trillion
HDI (2016)	0.901 very high
Currency	Chinese Yuan
Time zone	Nanjing Standard Time
Calling code	+886
ISO 3166 code	CN

The Republic of China, shortened to just China, is a country in Asia and the 2nd largest country in the world. Centered at its capital city of Nanjing, the country is the most populated country in the world, sitting at around 1.6 billion people. Officially, the country speaks majority Standard Chinese, however Mongolian, Uyghur, Tibetan, and Manchurian are all recognized languages in China. The country has a GDP of around 30 Trillion, the largest in the world. The currency is the Chinese Yuan, and the time zone is Nanjing Standard Time. The country is a Unitary Parliamentary Republic, led by a governing coalition under the Chinese Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang, and has a unicameral legislature known as the Legislative Yuan. The current Premier of China is Chang Wan-An, who is serving his first term as Premier within the governing coalition.

The Republic of China was founded as the Xinhai Revolution led to the downfall of centuries of Chinese rule, as its founder, Sun Zhongshan, led China throughout a period of social and political change. Under Sun Zhongshan and following leadership under various politicians such as Song Qingling, Deng Yanda, Sun Ke, and Chiang Wei-Shui following the ideals of Democratic Socialism, as the country continued to democratize, and in the cold war, the country whilst being in the Non-Aligned movement, remained friendly relations with the Soviet Union, similar to India, although unlike India, also maintained friendly relations with the United States. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Republic of China and the United States would grow closer ties as the Chinese government became more moderate on economic issues, however both countries remained geopolitical rivals, as China began to grow closer ties with India and the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics under Gorbachev.

History

The Republic of China would be founded following the Xinhai Revolution, in which Sun Zhongshan would cooperate with Yuan Shikai in order to ensure the Republic's survival. Following the Chinese legislative elections, a potential coup with the attempted assassination of Song Jiaoren by Yuan Shikai would be thwarted and Yuan Shikai would be deposed, in which Sun Zhongshan would be sworn in as both President and Premier, establishing a true democracy for the first time. Sun Zhongshan would continue maintain control over both Legislative and Executive authority until 1920, where he would restore that power to the population of China for their next elections. During this time, the KMT, the ruling party in China, had grown closer with the Soviet Union thanks to the efforts of Mikhail Borodin, however this would cause tension to rise between the Left and the Right. In the end, the Liberal faction under Sun Ke would seek to cooperate with moderate left-wing elements of the party. Sun Zhongshan after being followed by Song Jiaoren, would be followed by Song Qingling as Premier, the wife of the late president, who would undergo reforms aimed at turning China towards a path of Democratic Socialism. In this regard, she cooperated with CCP leader Chen Duxiu, which was unpopular amongst some in the CCP, leading to a split in the power. Song Qingling and her successor Deng Yanda would engage in land redistribution programs, enact healthcare and education reforms, and nationalize various industries, further socializing China's economy, and increasing the wealth of the average Chinese citizen. This period in Chinese history is widely praised, as following Song Jiaoren, the four Premiers of Song Qingling, Deng Yanda, Chiang Wei-Shui, and Sun Ke is widely referred to as the "Era of Progress", due to the four's popularity in engaging social and economic reforms. Song Qingling and Deng Yanda focused on economic reforms, although the former was also the one who championed social progress, in this regard, both enacted numerous land reform programs, were the first to implement steps heading towards universal healthcare as well as began educational reforms, as well as raised worker representation, income, and rights. Chiang Wei-Shui, the first Min President of the Republic, also focused on social reforms, however also was the one to bridge the gaps between China's numerous ethnic groups. His work would be finished by Sun Ke, the child of Sun Zhongshan, who would continue these social reforms. Around this time the Universal Healthcare System would be adopted in 1949. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese Republic would perform significantly great against their Japanese counterparts, even going as far as to liberate the Korean Peninsula, before being forced to hand it over to the USSR and the USA in exchange for an occupation zone in Japan, during which the Chinese would empower the democratic marxists of Japanese Communist Party in opposition to radical Marxist-Leninism, establishing the values of Three Principles of the People in a newly formed Japanese Socialist Party.

During this time period, the Political Situation in China would emerge between the five major political parties of the Republic, those being the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party, Guomindang, 國民黨), the Zhigongdang, (Public Interest Party, 致公黨), the Qinniandang (Young China Party, 青年黨), the Shijieshe (World Society, 世界社), and the Jinbudang (Progressive Party, 進步黨). These parties advocated for different ideas than the KMT. The Zhigongdang, founded by Chen Jiongming, was one of the earliest opposition parties to emerge in China, only rivaled by the Conservative Jinbudang. The party, whilst having similar social and economic positions as the KMT, remained in opposition in account of their support towards Chinese Federalism, as opposed to the Unitarian Government practiced by the KMT, and frequently fought the KMT over rural agrarian voters, although often times were frequently unsuccessful. The party had similar, albeit slightly more moderate positions as the KMT when it came to economics. The Jinbudang, or the Progressive Party, was contrary to the name a Conservative, Statist, Unitarian party that originally stemmed from the following of Yuan Shikai, however later abandoned following the treacherous general. Instead, they were the more radical right-wing party in contrast to the moderate YCP, and the Progressives advocated for the return of traditional Confucian structures in cooperation with an authoritarian democratic system whereby tradition and order could cooperate with democracy. The Shijieshe was formed by Cai Yuanpei, and split from the KMT a little bit after Chen Jiongming split from the the KMT. At this time period, the party was a coalition of syndicalists, anarchists, and libertarian socialists. Despite this, the party frequently collaborated with the KMT on many issues. Lastly, the Qinniandang, or the Young China Party, was formed after right-wing conservative members of the KMT left the party after it increasingly became more left-wing. The party advocates for a more Conservative approach towards the Three Principles of the People, maintaining their beliefs in welfare whilst simultaneously being strictly against socialism and communism. The Party itself consists of moderate conservatives. Minor parties such as the China Democratic League, a centrist party advocating for governmental unity and cooperation, also existed in the Legislative Yuan. The Chinese Communist Party under Chen Duxiu, which had earlier split apart with the Chinese Marxist-Leninist Party under Mao Zedong, would also have seats in the Legislative Yuan, and would frequently cooperate with the KMT.

Later, the first KMT defeat would come in the form of the populist candidate Yan Xishan, who would change the Progressive Party, incorporating many of its political beliefs into the party and his own personal ideology. His populist rhetoric, combined with his appeal towards both socialists and conservatives, would secure an electoral victory in the Legislative Yuan, forming a coalition with the YCP and CDL. Yan Xishan's first term as premier came with great success, continuing to appeal the workers as well as further China's influence abroad. It was during his term that the Cold War would rampen up, and he was joined by the KMT in advocating for a neutral stance, simultaneously trying to improve relations with both the Soviet Union and the USA. Foreign Policy wise his positions were widely popular amongst the Chinese people in an era of geopolitical tensions. For instance, in the Korean War, he made the decision to oppose both sides in the conflict, seeing both as anti-democratic and pro-imperialist, and instead intervening in the civil war, establishing a democratic republic in the north, the Korean Federal Republic, built on the similar principles as Chinese Democracy, which would eventually reunite the Korean peninsula when the south overthrew the dictatorship. His second term however saw economic collapse, as a recession would hit the Chinese state, leading to jobs being lost and a vote of no confidence being held, eventually leading to Yan Xishan being ousted by members of his own party. Its important to note that Yan Xishan did not follow the orthodox values of his party. Instead of advocating for authoritarian measures, he remained a supporter of democracy. His ideology advocated for communism and socialism in cooperation with conservative confucian values and capitalism, and he himself was very cooperative with the KMT and agreed with many of their platforms, including foreign policy wise. Yan Xishan was overturned largely in part by his own party, who didn't see eye to eye with his views. Nevertheless, his ideology was still incredibly controversial, and many believe that his idealism brought upon economic downfall in China, however this position is largely disputed.

Government and Politics

Politics

Main Article: Politics of the Republic of China

Legislature

Main Article: Legislature of the Republic of China