Making Sense the Conception of ‘Unrecognized Statehood’: Taiwan’s Protracted Struggle for Seizing International Recognition

Abstract

This article aims to examine the lens of the 'Unrecognized Statehood' concept in the case of Taiwan's legitimacy as a sovereign state. The study found: (1) the dualism of government determined by the competition of the number of people in favor, (2) China's victory in the civil war between the PRC and the ROC that resulted in effective geographical control of the territory in Beijing government, and (3) the recognition of international countries to the Beijing government as a de jure and de facto representation of "China" by 15 countries alone that recognize the Taipei government. It argues that Taiwan categorised as an "unrecognised state" has successfully created their "own" characteristic of sovereignty even with a small number of foreign state recognition. This research uses qualitative-explanatory methods to answer how the concept of unrecognised statehood is interpreted based on the case of China-Taiwan dispute. It analyses existing secondary data with case studies. The research concluded that the national character by Taiwan's government in the international arena is politically identified as a tangible defiance of China's established sovereignty.