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Mainland China

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Mainland China
Traditional Chinese中國大陸
Simplified Chinese中国大陆
Literal meaningChina Continent
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhōnggúo Dàlù
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingjung1 gwok3 daai6 luk6
Southern Min
Hokkien POJTiong-kok Tāi-lio̍k
Alternative Chinese name
Chinese内地
Literal meaningInland
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinNèidì
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingnoi6 dei6
The highlighted area in the map is what is commonly known as "mainland China".

Mainland China, Continental China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China (PRC), excluding Hong Kong and Macau, which run on different economic and political systems. The term never includes Taiwan, which is claimed by the PRC, but is under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China (ROC).

In the English language, "China" is often synonymous with mainland China. In Chinese, however, use of "China" to refer to the mainland China is more politically sensitive, mostly due to the political status of Taiwan. There are two terms in Chinese for "Mainland". Namely, Dalu (simplified Chinese: 大陆; traditional Chinese: 大陸) and Neidi (Chinese: 内地). The usage of the two terms are generally interchangeable and there is no prescribed method of reference in any jurisdiction.

The Island of Hainan is administratively considered as part of mainland China, but may be considered as an overseas terrtory for geographic purposes. [1]

Background

Before and after World War II, two political entities fought for control of China. Eventually, in 1949, the Communist Party of China emerged victorious against the Kuomintang (KMT, Chinese Nationalist Party), whose leader and administration fled to Taiwan. The Communist Party claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China on October 1, 1949, and named the state the People's Republic of China.[2] The Republic of China, based in Taiwan, an island which the Republic of China took control of after the Japanese surrender of 1945, also claimed to be China's sole legitimate government. This made for an interesting geopolitical scene since, with two co-existing governments each claiming international legitimacy as the government of China. Communist leader Mao Zedong vowed to attack Taiwan and destroy the KMT, and KMT leader Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek vowed to attack the Communists, now based across the Taiwan Strait in mainland China. As this political framework solidified, the term "mainland China" emerged as a politically neutral term to refer to the area under control of the Communist Party of China. Supporters of Taiwan's independence prefer using "China" to refer to the People's Republic of China, as using "mainland China" would imply that Taiwan is part of China.

When the People's Republic of China was founded, Hong Kong and Macau were still colonies of Great Britain and Portugal, respectively. As a result, "Mainland China" also excluded these two territories.[3] Since the return of Hong Kong and Macau to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 and 1999, respectively, the two territories have retained their legal, political, and economic systems. The territories also have their distinct identities. Therefore "Mainland China" generally continues to exclude these territories, because of the "One country, two systems" policy adopted by the PRC central government towards the regions.[4] The term is also used in economic indicators, such as the IMD Competitiveness Report.

The usage of the term "mainland China" is more limited in the English language, with "China" being the common term used to refer to the People's Republic of China and the areas under it's control.

Usage of the term

The term is variously capitalised Mainland China or mainland China (or the Mainland/the mainland) by authoritative users.

In Taiwan

In Taiwan, the term "Mainlander" can also refer to waishengren (Chinese: 外省人; pinyin: wàishěngrén; lit. 'external province person(s)'), which are the people who emigrated to Taiwan from Mainland China with the Kuomintang (KMT) around the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, as well as their descendants 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.[5] The term "Mainlander" can also refer to daluren (simplified Chinese: 大陆人; traditional Chinese: 大陸人; pinyin: dàlùrén; lit. 'mainland person(s)'), meaning people who live in mainland China.

In Hong Kong and Macau

In Hong Kong and Macau, the term "mainland China" and "mainlander" is frequently used for people from China mainland. This usage is not geographically accurate, however, as much of the land area of both Hong Kong and Macau are peninsulas connected to the continent. The Chinese term 內地, meaning the inland but still translated Mainland in English, is commonly applied by SAR governments to represent non-SAR areas of PRC, including Hainan and coastal regions of Mainland China, such as "Constitutional and Mainland Affairs" (政制及內地事務局)[6] and Immigration Departments.[7]

In Mainland China

In the PRC, the term 內地 ("Inland") 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).[4]

In Hainan

Hainan is an offshore island, therefore geographcially it is an overseas territory of People's Republic of China. Nevertheless, politically it is common practice to consider it just as part of the mainland because its government, legal, political system does not differ from the rest of People's Republic of China in the geographcial mainland.

Others

Other use of geography-related terms are also often used where neutrality is required.

Simplified
Chinese 		Traditional
Chinese 		Pinyin Jyutping Description
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 (大陸/大陆), Taiwan (臺灣/台湾) and Hong Kong/Macau (港澳/港澳).
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 (香港) and Macau (澳門/澳门)

References

  1. ^ Hainan Government
  2. ^ Jeshurun, Chandran. [1993] (1993). China, India, Japan and the Security of Southeast Asia. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 9813016612. pg 146.
  3. ^ So, Alvin Y. Lin, Nan. Poston, Dudley L. Contributor Professor, So, Alvin Y. [2001] (2001). The Chinese Triangle of Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Greenwood Publishing. ISBN 0313308691.
  4. ^ a b LegCo. "Legislative council HK." Mainland Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Bill. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  5. ^ Apdrc.org. "Apdrc.org." Taiwan's Identity Politics. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  6. ^ Cmab.gov.hk. "Cmab.gov.hk." Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  7. ^ Chinese version, English version, Statistics on Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (输入内地人才计划数据资料), Immigration Department (Hong Kong).

See also

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