Mainland China | |||||||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese: | 中國大陸 | ||||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese: | 中国大陆 | ||||||||||||||
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Mainland China, Continental China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term synonymous with the area that is under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China (PRC), usually excluding the territories of Hong Kong and Macau. The term never includes Taiwan, which is claimed by the PRC, but is under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China (ROC).
In English, it is not uncommon for a reference to "China" to mean "mainland China".
The term in Chinese may or may not include Hainan Island, which is geographically an offshore island.
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There has been a struggle between the two Chinese entities since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, when the Communist Party of China defeated the Republic of China, which was led by the Kuomintang (KMT, Chinese Nationalist Party). This led to the establishment of the PRC, which has since been based on "Mainland China".[1] It excludes the area controlled by the retreating Kuomintang, as well as the then colonies of Hong Kong and Macau.[2] Since the return of Hong Kong and Macau to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 and 1999 respectively, "Mainland China" generally continues to exclude these territories, because of the "One country, two systems" policy adopted by the PRC central government towards the SARs.[3] The term is also used in economic indicators, such as the IMD Competitiveness Report.
The term is variously capitalised Mainland China or mainland China (or the Mainland/the mainland) by authoritative users.
In Taiwan, the term "Mainlander" can also refer to waishengren (Chinese: 外省人; pinyin: wàishěngrén), or the people who emigrated to Taiwan from Mainland China with the Kuomintang (KMT) near and after the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949; and their children, who were born in Taiwan. The status of waishengren in Taiwan is a divisive political issue. For many years mainlanders were given special treatment by the KMT government which had imposed martial law on Taiwan. More recently, pro-Taiwan independence politicians calling into question their loyalty and devotion to Taiwan and pro-Chinese reunification politicians accusing the pro-independence politicians of playing identity politics.[4] The term "Mainland" can also refer to dalu (simplified Chinese: 大陆; traditional Chinese: 大陸; pinyin: dàlù), meaning a people who live on the mainland. An example is the Mainland Affairs Council of ROC.[5]
Supporters of Taiwanese independence also frequently disfavour the use of the term as it implied a geographical extension or relation to China. In mainland China itself, the term (simplified Chinese: 内地; traditional Chinese: 內地; pinyin: nèidì), literally the inland. The term has gained popularity in use in place of the term "mainland", particularly after the return of the SARs.
In Hong Kong and Macau, the term "mainland China" and "mainlander" is frequently used for people from China mainland. For political correctness, the term (內地) has become the most common in the region. Official government groups such as "Constitutional and Mainland Affairs" (政制及內地事務局) is an examples that use the inland term.[6]
In the PRC, the inland term (內地) is often separated by the external term (國外) or (外國) for things outside of the mainland region. Examples include "Administration of Foreign-funded Banks" (中華人民共和國外資銀行管理條例) or the "Measures on Administration of Representative Offices of Foreign Insurance Institutions" (外國保險機構駐華代表機構管理辦法).[3]
In political sense, while it is the usual norm to refer all regions under the direct jurisdiction of People's Republic of China and Chinese Communist Party as Mainland China, this may be awkward for those reside in Hainan to do so, as Hainan is part of PRC but geographically an off-shore island.
For geographically purpose, Hainan is an overseas territory, while immigration purpose, Hainan is considered as part of mainland. [7]
Other use of geography-related terms are also often used where neutrality is required.
Simplified Chinese |
Traditional Chinese |
Pinyin | Jyutping | Description |
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两岸关系 | 兩岸關係 | liǎng'àn guānxì | loeng5 ngon6 gwaan1 hai6 | Reference to the Taiwan Strait (Cross-Strait relations, literally "relations between the two sides/shores of the Strait of Taiwan) |
海峡两岸 | 海峽兩岸 | Hǎixiá liǎng'àn | hoi2 haap6 loeng5 ngon6 | The physical shores on both sides of the straits, "two shores" may be used. |
两岸三地 | 兩岸三地 | liǎng'àn sāndì | loeng5 ngon6 saam1 dei6 | An extension of this is the term "two shores, three places", with "three places" meaning mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. |
两岸四地 | 兩岸四地 | liǎng'àn sìdì | loeng5 ngon6 sei3 dei6 | When referring to either Hong Kong or Macau, or "two shores, four places" when referring to both Hong Kong and Macau |
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Territorial disputes in East, South, and Southeast Asia | |||
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Type | Territory | Currently Administered by | Claimants |
Land: | Aksai Chin | ![]() |
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Arunachal Pradesh | ![]() |
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Baekdu Mountain | ![]() ![]() |
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East Turkestan | ![]() |
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Heixiazi/Bolshoy Ussuriysky (Eastern part)2 | ![]() |
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Indo-Bangladesh enclaves3 | ![]() ![]() |
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Kashmir3 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Kachin State | ![]() |
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Kayin State | ![]() |
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Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands3 | ![]() ![]() |
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Mainland China2 | ![]() |
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Mongolia2 | ![]() |
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Pamir Mountains (Northern and central parts)2 | ![]() |
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Wakhan Corridor2 | ![]() |
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Pattani | ![]() |
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Sabah2 | ![]() |
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Shan State | ![]() |
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Sixty-Four Villages East of the Heilongjiang River2 | ![]() |
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Tannu Uriankhai (now Tuva Republic of Russia)2 | ![]() |
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Tibet | ![]() |
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Trans-Karakoram Tract | ![]() |
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Wa State | ![]() |
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Islands and Waters: | Kinmen | ![]() |
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Liancourt Rocks | ![]() |
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Macclesfield Bank | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Matsu | ![]() |
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Paracel Islands | ![]() |
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South Ledge | ![]() |
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Pratas Islands | ![]() |
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Scarborough Shoal | ![]() |
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Senkaku Islands | ![]() |
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Sir Creek3 | ![]() ![]() |
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Socotra Rock | ![]() |
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Southern Kuril Islands | ![]() |
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Spratly Islands3 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Taiwan and Penghu2 | ![]() |
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Notes: | 1Government in exile/exiled group. 2Inactive dispute. 3Divided among multiple claimants. |