Territorial changes of the People's Republic of China
Encyclopedia
Since on 1 October 1949 the establishment of the People's Republic of China
, its territory has been frequently changed till now. P.R.China inherited most part of its former Republic of China
territory.
Till 1986, the total territory (or under control) of P.R.China was 10.45 million km2, including:
During 1990s and 2000s, the official value of China's territory is rarely seen or published, partially because of the frequent and even ongoing changes of the territory (see the list).
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, its territory has been frequently changed till now. P.R.China inherited most part of its former Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
territory.
Till 1986, the total territory (or under control) of P.R.China was 10.45 million km2, including:
- Continental mainland: ~9.40 million km2
- IslandIslandAn island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s and reefReefIn nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
s: ~75,400 km2 - Coastal beachBeachA beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
es and shoaly lands: ~12,700 km2 - Inner sea (mainly Bohai SeaBohai SeaBohai Sea , also known as Bohai Gulf, Bohai, or Bo Hai, is the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea on the coast of Northeastern and North China. It is approximately 78,000 km2 Bohai Sea , also known as Bohai Gulf, Bohai, or Bo Hai, is the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea on the coast of...
): ~693,000 km2 - Territorial (sea only) watersTerritorial watersTerritorial waters, or a territorial sea, as defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is a belt of coastal waters extending at most from the baseline of a coastal state...
: ~220,000 km2
During 1990s and 2000s, the official value of China's territory is rarely seen or published, partially because of the frequent and even ongoing changes of the territory (see the list).
1949-1959
- In 1949, Zhou EnlaiZhou EnlaiZhou Enlai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976...
asked the Division of Campaign of General Staff Department of PLAPeople's Liberation Army General Staff DepartmentThe People's Liberation Army General Staff Department is the command organ and the headquarters for the Chinese People's Liberation Army . It is under the absolute leadership of the Central Military Commission...
to calculate out the total area of China's territory within two days. The result was said about 9.6 million km2. - 1 October 1949. The establishment of the People's Republic of China was officially announced by Mao ZedongMao ZedongMao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
on the TiananmenTiananmenThe Tiananmen, Tian'anmen or Gate of Heavenly Peace is a famous monument in Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is widely used as a national symbol. First built during the Ming Dynasty in 1420, Tian'anmen is often referred to as the front entrance to the Forbidden City...
in BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. - 1 May 1950, the Island of HainanHainanHainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
was fully under control of PLAPeople's Liberation ArmyThe People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
. - 19 May 1950, the largest archipelagoArchipelagoAn archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
of China - ZhoushanZhoushanZhoushan or Zhoushan Archipelago New Area; formerly transliterated as Chusan, is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province of Eastern China. The only prefecture-level city of the People's Republic of China consisting solely of islands, it lies across the mouth of the Hangzhou Bay,...
, was fully under control of PLA. - 23 May 1951, area of Tibet Autonomous RegionTibet Autonomous RegionThe Tibet Autonomous Region , Tibet or Xizang for short, also called the Xizang Autonomous Region is a province-level autonomous region of the People's Republic of China , created in 1965....
was annexed into the People's Republic of China.
1960-1969
- 21 November 1962, P.R.China won the military victory of Sino-Indian WarSino-Indian WarThe Sino-Indian War , also known as the Sino-Indian Border Conflict , was a war between China and India that occurred in 1962. A disputed Himalayan border was the main pretext for war, but other issues played a role. There had been a series of violent border incidents after the 1959 Tibetan...
but withdrew to the pre-war boundaries. Since then, India keeps control of North-East Frontier Agency area; China controls areas of Aksai ChinAksai ChinAksai Chin is one of the two main disputed border areas between China and India, and the other is South Tibet, which comprises most of India's Arunachal Pradesh. It is administered by China as part of Hotan County in the Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, but is also claimed by India...
(~30,000 km2) and Trans-Karakoram TractTrans-Karakoram TractThe Trans-Karakoram Tract is an area of nearly along both sides of the Shaksgam River, is entirely administered by the People's Republic of China as a part of Kargilik County and Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in the Kashgar Prefecture of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, but claimed by Pakistan...
(5,181 km2). See article: Sino-Indian WarSino-Indian WarThe Sino-Indian War , also known as the Sino-Indian Border Conflict , was a war between China and India that occurred in 1962. A disputed Himalayan border was the main pretext for war, but other issues played a role. There had been a series of violent border incidents after the 1959 Tibetan...
. - 1969, after Sino-Soviet border conflictSino-Soviet border conflictThe Sino–Soviet border conflict was a seven-month military conflict between the Soviet Union and China at the height of the Sino–Soviet split in 1969. The most serious of these border clashes occurred in March 1969 in the vicinity of Zhenbao Island on the Ussuri River, also known as Damanskii...
, USSR controlled Zhenbao IslandZhenbao IslandZhenbao Island or Damansky Island is a small island measuring . It is located on the Ussuri River on the border between Russia and the People's Republic of China ....
(see article: Sino-Soviet border conflictSino-Soviet border conflictThe Sino–Soviet border conflict was a seven-month military conflict between the Soviet Union and China at the height of the Sino–Soviet split in 1969. The most serious of these border clashes occurred in March 1969 in the vicinity of Zhenbao Island on the Ussuri River, also known as Damanskii...
). (Extra mark: Zhenbao Island later was handled to P.R.China in 2000s, see article: 1991 Sino-Russian border agreement1991 Sino-Russian Border AgreementThe 1991 Sino-Soviet Border Agreement was a treaty between the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union that set up demarcation work to resolve most of the border disputes between the two states. Initially signed by China and the Soviet Union, the terms of the agreement were resumed by...
).
1970-1979
- 23 November 1971, P.R.China replaced the UNUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
seat of R.O.ChinaRepublic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(in TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
). P.R.China keeps claiming Taiwan as a territory of China, despite never having control on it. See articles: China and the United NationsChina and the United NationsChina's seat in the United Nations and membership of the United Nations Security Council was originally occupied by the Republic of China since October 24, 1945. During the Chinese Civil War, the Communist Party of China repelled the government of the ROC from Mainland China to the island of...
, Political status of TaiwanPolitical status of TaiwanThe controversy regarding the political status of Taiwan hinges on whether Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu should remain effectively independent as territory of the Republic of China , become unified with the territories now governed by the People's Republic of China , or formally declare...
, Legal status of TaiwanLegal status of TaiwanThe legal status of Republic of China is a controversial issue which stems from the complex post-Second World War history of Taiwan. Various claims have been made by the People's Republic of China , the Republic of China , and supporters of Taiwan independence over this question, with a variety of...
. - 19 January 1974, after the Battle of the Paracel Islands, P.R.China controls over the Paracel IslandsParacel IslandsThe Paracel Islands, also called Xisha Islands in Chinese and Hoàng Sa Islands in Vietnamese, is a group of islands under the administration of Hainan Province, The People's Republic of China. Vietnam and the Republic of China also claim sovereignty of these islands...
and surrounding waters. See article: Battle of the Paracel Islands.
1980-1989
- 14 Martch 1988, after the Johnson South Reef SkirmishJohnson South Reef SkirmishThe Johnson South Reef Skirmish of 1988 was a naval battle that took place between Chinese and Vietnamese forces over Johnson South Reef in the Spratly Islands on March 14, 1988...
, P.R.China controls (at least) 6 reefs in the South China SeaSouth China SeaThe South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
, namely: Fiery Cross Reef, Cuarteron Reef, Hugh Reef/Hughes Reef, Nanxun Jiao/Nanxun Reef, Subi ReefSubi ReefSubi Reef or Zhubi Reef is a reef in the Spratly Islands in South China Sea. It lies 16 miles southwest of Philippine-occupied Thitu Island). Naturally above water only at low tide. It surrounds a huge lagoon. The occupying country People's Republic of China has constructed 3-storey buildings,...
, Chigua Jiao/Chigua Reef, and surrounding waters. See article Johnson South Reef SkirmishJohnson South Reef SkirmishThe Johnson South Reef Skirmish of 1988 was a naval battle that took place between Chinese and Vietnamese forces over Johnson South Reef in the Spratly Islands on March 14, 1988...
.
1990-1999
- 1991, after the 1991 Sino-Russian Border Agreement1991 Sino-Russian Border AgreementThe 1991 Sino-Soviet Border Agreement was a treaty between the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union that set up demarcation work to resolve most of the border disputes between the two states. Initially signed by China and the Soviet Union, the terms of the agreement were resumed by...
, many segments of territories and islands along the border between P.R.China and Russia were transferred to China. See article: 1991 Sino-Russian Border Agreement1991 Sino-Russian Border AgreementThe 1991 Sino-Soviet Border Agreement was a treaty between the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union that set up demarcation work to resolve most of the border disputes between the two states. Initially signed by China and the Soviet Union, the terms of the agreement were resumed by...
. - 1 July 1997, Hong Kong (1,104 km2) was handed to P.R.China. See article Transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong.
- 1998-1999, the Sino-Russian-North Korean border was fixed.
- 20 December 1999, Macau (29.2 km2) was handed to P.R.China. See article: Transfer of sovereignty of MacauTransfer of sovereignty of MacauThe transfer of sovereignty of Macau from the Portuguese Republic to the People's Republic of China occurred on 20 December 1999. Portuguese merchants settled in Macau and governed themselves since the time of the Ming Dynasty , first establishing a foothold in 1535, though Portugal's involvement...
.
2000-2009
- 14 October 2004 - 2 June 2005, a treaty about east border between P.R.China and Russia was signed by P.R.China and Russia. It's said China "regained 337 km2" territory. See RussianRussian languageRussian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
article: Демаркация российско-китайской границы (2005); ChineseChinese languageThe Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
article: 中华人民共和国和俄罗斯联邦关于中俄国界东段的补充协定. - September 2008-2009, the border between P.R.China and TajikistanTajikistanTajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
was surveyed. It's said that China "regained more than 1,000 km2". - 31 December 2008, the borderline between P.R.China and VietnamVietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
was determined, but detailed information hasn't yet been published. - 2009, the artificial landLand reclamationLand reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
(mainland China only) built by the nation would be 150 km2.
2011
- 12 January: The Tajikistan parliament ratifies a deal ceding approximately 1000 square kilometres to China.
See also
- Land reclamations of the People's Republic of ChinaLand reclamations of the People's Republic of ChinaThe People's Republic of China is rather active in land reclamation. Since the establishment of the PRC in 1949, a large amount of artificial land has been reclaimed, mainly on its coastlines...
- Overseas expansion of the United States
- Territorial changes of the United States
- Territorial changes of GermanyTerritorial changes of GermanyThe territorial changes of Germany refer to the changes in the borders and territory of Germany from its formation in 1871 to the present. Modern Germany was formed in 1871 when Otto von Bismarck unified most of the German-speaking states into the German Empire...