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Taiwan explained: Why China claims it, and why the U.S. is involved

Catch up with NBC News Clone on today's hot topic: Cfr Taiwan Explained China Claims Us Involved Rcna343424 - World News | NBC News Clone. Our editorial team reformatted this story for clarity and speed.

Cross-strait tensions have escalated in recent years as China has rapidly ramped up its military capabilities and conducted more intrusive operations near the island.

Kinmen - The Taiwanese Island With Strong Links To China

A statue of the former leader of Republic of China Chiang Kai-shek behind the national flag of Taiwan in Kinmen Island.Annabelle Chih / Getty Images

May 4, 2026, 9:36 AM EDT

By David Sacks, Lindsay Maizland and Clara Fong

This article was originally published on CFR.org and updated by NBC News.

Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), is an island separated from China by the Taiwan Strait. Mainland China, officially the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is under Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rule and asserts that Taiwan is an integral part of its territory, though it has never governed the island.

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