China (; Wade-Giles (Mandarin): Chung 1 kuo²) is a cultural region, ancient civilization, and nation in East Asia. It is one of the world's oldest civilizations, consisting of states and cultures dating back more than six millennia. The stalemate of the last Chinese Civil War has resulted in two political states using the name China: the People's Republic of China (PRC), commonly known as "China," which controls mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau; and the Republic of China (ROC), commonly known as "Taiwan," which controls the island of Taiwan and its surrounding islands. Most governments officially regard the areas administered by the ROC as a part of "China"; for details on the dispute, see see Political status of Taiwan.
