(1) In the aftermath of the First Sino-Japanese War, Qing China ceded Taiwan to Japan in the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki. With the coming into force of this treaty, Japan exercised sovereignty over Taiwan and held title to its territory.
(2) The Republic of China (ROC) was founded in 1912. After some years of turbulence, the ROC established its capital in Nanjing, with Dr. Sun Yat-sen as the provisional president.
(3) Taiwan, however, having come under Japanese rule in 1895, was not part of the ROC in the early years of the 20th century.
(4) Hence, at the most basic level, up through the early 1940's, the Republic of China was recognized by the world community as the sole legitimate government of China. This we will designate as the ROC's "Status in China #1."
(5) Many Chinese people like to point out that "The Republic of China has been a sovereign independent nation since 1912." This is arguably true, however we must not forget that Taiwan was not a part of the ROC in early years of the 20th century. It was Japanese territory.
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