The Chinese Republic, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), 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 ROC aimed to modernize the country and implement democratic governance, but it faced numerous challenges, including warlordism and civil unrest. In 1949, after a prolonged civil war with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the ROC government retreated to Taiwan. Since then, Taiwan has operated as a separate entity, while the mainland is governed by the People's Republic of China (PRC). The status of the ROC remains a complex and sensitive issue in international relations.