This Happened — November 23: China Comes To The UN
Following a long series of voting, and two decades after its founding, the People's Republic of China finally gains recognition and joins the United Nations.
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When did the People’s Republic of China join the UN?
The Republic of China joined the UN when it was founded in 1945, along with all of the other Allied countries from World War II. But, just four years later China experienced a communist revolution during the Chinese Civil War which led to the establishment of the new People’s Republic of China in 1949.
Was the People's Republic of China originally allowed to join?
The People’s Republic of China struggled for 21 years to achieve recognition and legitimacy in the UN, which recognized the Republic of China, aka, Taiwan, as the legitimate Chinese representatives. until U.S. President Richard Nixon finally opened negotiations with then Chairman Mao Zedong of the Chinese Communist Party. Albania had been putting forth yearly motions to replace the Republic with the People’s Republic for years, but this time the U.S. was onboard. In 1971, the People’s Republic of China finally became a member of the UN, and one of five permanent members on the UN Security Council, a seat which it has now held for over 50 years.
How was the People's Republic of China formed?
As the Republic of China essentially operated out of the island of Taiwan, the People’s Republic of China became the undisputed governing body of mainland China, yet the UN continued to recognize the old Republic of China due to its more closely aligned ideology.
Updated Nov. 23, 2023 at 12:40 p.m.
