The Myth of "Taiwan Retrocession Day"

ROC/Taiwan hopes to have its "sovereignty" recognized by more and more countries in the world, so that it can be a more active participant in the international community. However, as a precondition for that recognition, it would be desirable for the government officials in Taiwan to make a full explanation of how ROC/Taiwan fulfills the Montevideo Convention criteria for statehood.

DEFINED TERRITORY: Many armchair "legal experts" continually offer up the opinion that Taiwan/ROC includes the areas of "Formosa and the Pescadores" (aka "Taiwan"). However, they conveniently ignore the fact that after the close of the WWII period, "Formosa and the Pescadores" have never been legally incorporated into the national territory of the Republic of China.

The primary rationale which ROC government officials use to justify their claims of sovereignty over "Formosa and the Pescadores" is the "Taiwan Retrocession Day" argument. But such an argument finds no support in international law whatsoever.

For further details, please view the following videos.

(22) Retrocession Day (Oct. 25, 1945)

(23) Transfer of Sovereignty at Surrender Ceremonies

(65) Montevideo Convention

(66) Taiwan Retrocession Day? ROC Mass Naturalization?

(05) The Republic of China in Taiwan (Oct. 1945)



There was no transfer of Taiwan's Territorial Sovereignty in 1945
Important LINKs for Reference
Validity of Territorial Claims Based on the Cairo Declaration
Taiwan: No Agreement or Arrangement was Signed
Taiwan: Arguing over the Transfer of Title
Examination of the Sovereign Territory claimed by the ROC government
Sheng v. Rogers (D.C. Circuit, 1959)


The United States Has Never Agreed that Taiwan Belongs to China

For relevant details, please view the following videos.

(47) Three Joint Communiques

(48) USA Does Not Agree with China's Position

(49) The Meaning of "Acknowledge"

(50) Territorial Annexation

(51) Military Occupation v. Annexation