From 1912 to 1949, China was known as the Republic of China (ROC), a period that began with the overthrow of the Qing dynasty in 1911–12 and ended with the defeat of the ruling Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) in the Chinese Civil War, leading to the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland in 1949 and the ROC government's retreat to Taiwan. This tumultuous era was marked by political instability, warlordism, the rise of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the Second Sino-Japanese War.

 On one side was the ruling nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) party, led by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. On the other was the opposing Chinese Communist Party (CCP), led by Mao Zedong. During the Second World War, both parties banded together to fight off Japanese occupation

The Kuomintang (KMT)^[I][c] is a major political party in the Republic of China (Taiwan). It was the sole ruling party of the country during its rule from 1927 to 1949 in Mainland China until its relocation to Taiwan, and in Taiwan ruled under martial law until 1987. The KMT is a centre-right to right-wing party and the largest in the Pan-Blue Coalition, one of the two main political groups in Taiwan. Its primary rival is the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the largest party in the Pan-Green Coalition. As of 2025, the KMT is the largest single party in the Legislative Yuan and is chaired by Eric Chu.

The party was founded by Sun Yat-sen in 1894 in Honolulu, Hawaii, as the Revive China Society. He reformed the party in 1919 in the Shanghai French Concession under its current name. From 1926 to 1928, the KMT under Chiang Kai-shek successfully unified China in the Northern Expedition against regional warlords, leading to the fall of the Beiyang government. After initially allying with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the First United Front, the party under Chiang purged communist members. It was the sole ruling party of China from 1928 to 1949 but gradually lost control while fighting the Empire of Japan in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the CCP in the Chinese Civil War. In December 1949, the Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan following its defeat by the communists.

Key Periods & Events

Founding of the Republic (1912):

The Xinhai Revolution led to the abdication of the Qing emperor, ending over two millennia of imperial rule and establishing the Republic of China on January 1, 1912. 

Early Republic and Warlordism (1912–1927):

After Sun Yat-sen's brief presidency, Yuan Shikai took power, but his attempt to restore the monarchy in 1915 failed. His death in 1916 plunged China into decades of division and rule by regional warlords. 

Nationalist Unification and the Second Sino-Japanese War (1927–1945):

The Kuomintang (KMT), under Chiang Kai-shek, reunified China and established a one-party state, with Nanjing as its capital. Japan's invasion in 1937, which escalated into the Second Sino-Japanese War, severely weakened the KMT government. 

Chinese Civil War (1945–1949):

Following the end of World War II, the civil war between the KMT and the CCP intensified. The CCP, with its effective guerrilla tactics and growing popular support, gained the upper hand against the weakened KMT forces. 

Establishment of the People's Republic of China (1949):

The CCP's victory in the civil war led to the proclamation of the People's Republic of China on the mainland in October 1949. The Nationalist government and its supporters retreated to the island of Taiwan, where they established the modern-day Republic of China.