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( Mainland China)
Mainland China, Continental China, or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term usually synonymous with the area that is culturally and legally associated with the territory of the People's Republic of China (PRC) currently under the direct political control of Beijing. This means that the term usually does not include the two Special Administrative Regions (SARs) of Hong Kong and Macau. The term also never includes Taiwan, which is claimed by the PRC, but has never in practise been governed by it. The term in the Chinese language may or may not include Hainan Island, which is geographically separate. In English speech and writing, the distinction is not always made, and a reference to "China" is an implicit reference to the PRC, but this usage may or may not include Hong Kong and Macao. In common usage the term "Taiwan" includes the islands of Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. 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.
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