Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area


The Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area is the highest law of the Republic of China governing cross-Strait relations. The act defines its de facto controlled territory as the Taiwan area. It also provides a legal framework on the relations between the Taiwan and mainland China without recognising the legitimacy of the People's Republic of China and its governmental organisations. It is enacted in accordance with Article 10 of the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China promulgated on 1 May 1991.
In this law, "People of the Taiwan area" refers to those under the jurisdiction of the government of the Republic of China on Taiwan and its associated islands; "People of the Mainland area" refers to those under the jurisdiction of the government of the People's Republic of China, with the exception of Hong Kong and Macau which are governed by the separate Act Governing Relations with Hong Kong and Macau.
The main purpose of the act is to protect the security and welfare of the people in Taiwan.

History

The act was drafted in the early 1990s and passed on 31 July 1992.