The [[United Kingdom]] and [[Portugal]] transferred their colonies of [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]] on the southern Chinese coast to the PRC in [[1997]] and [[1999]], respectively. ''China'' used in a modern context often refers to just the territory of the PRC, or to "[[Mainland China]]" (the territory of the PRC excluding Hong Kong and Macau).
The PRC does not [[diplomatic recognition|recognize]] the ROC, as it claims to have succeeded the ROC as the legitimate governing authority of all of China including Taiwan. On the other hand, the ROC—while havingnever yetformally torenouncing changeits itearlier sclaims or changing official maps that show its terrirtory as being definedterritory as including bothtboth hethe modern-day PRC and, Mongolia and Tibet—has moved away from this former identity representing its rule over all of China, and increasingly identifies itself as ''[[Taiwan]]''. The PRC has historically resisted the ROC's identification of itself as Taiwan, especially in light of the movement supported by residents of Taiwan and others who advocate Taiwan's identity as an [[Taiwan independence|independent political entity]]. Significant disputes persist as to the nature and extent of ''China'', possible [[Chinese reunification]] and the [[Political status of Taiwan|political status of Taiwan]].
