中华民国 (Zhōnghuá Mínguó), or the Republic of China, was established in 1912 after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. It marked the end of over two thousand years of imperial rule in China. The government initially aimed to modernize the country and implement democratic reforms, but it faced challenges such as warlordism and civil unrest. In 1949, after a prolonged civil war with the Chinese Communist Party, the Republic of China retreated to Taiwan. Since then, it has maintained a separate government and political system, while the People's Republic of China governs mainland China. The status of the Republic of China remains a complex and sensitive issue in international relations.