Status verified as of 22 September 2026. Political positions change; this explainer describes the documented position on that date.
Current position
Taiwan remains self-governing under the Republic of China, with its international status disputed: the PRC claims it as part of its own territory, while the ROC government maintains it is already sovereign and independent without pursuing a formal declaration. This status quo remained unresolved as of the most recent sources reviewed.[1]
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party became Taiwan's president in May 2024; in his inaugural address he stated that "Taiwan is already a sovereign and independent country. There is no need to declare independence again," a position characterized as maintaining the long-standing cross-strait "status quo" rather than issuing a formal declaration of independence. Taiwan's 2024 elections produced a divided government, with the DPP retaining the presidency but losing legislative control.
- A divided Taiwan faces cross-strait pressures (East Asia Forum) link, DPP Leadership and Election Results sections. Source record
Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/taiwan/status · last substantive update 24 September 2026.