a government on the island of Taiwan established in 1949 by Chiang Kai-shek after the conquest of mainland China by the Communists led by Mao Zedong, an island in southeastern Asia 100 miles off the coast of mainland China in the South China Sea, proper Common name for a country in East Asia. Official name_ Republic of China, Its de facto capital is Taipei, An island off the coast of mainland China, also known as Formosa since 16th century