ABSTRACT
Bruce A. Elleman The approximately 100 mile (161 km) wide Taiwan Strait separates the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan. For much of its post-1949 history, the ROC claimed all of mainland China-including Mongolia and many disputed frontier lands-as its sovereign territory. Gradually Taipei’s expectation of retaking the mainland diminished, but it still has territorial claims and exerts actual control over a number of small islands off the coast of China, including Jinmen (formerly Quemoy) and Mazu islands, as well as the Pratas islands to the southwest. It also retains control over the largest island in the Spratlys, Itu Aba (Taiping Island in Chinese).
