The Republic of China, commonly known as TAIWAN, is a sovereign state located in East Asia. It is the most populous state and largest economy that is not a member of the United Nations. TAIWAN is officially recognized by 14 out of 193 United Nations member states, as well as by the Holy See. The Republic of China was founded in 1912 and governed the Chinese mainland until 1949, when it was defeated by the Communist Party of China in the Chinese Civil War. Since then, the Republic of China has been based on the island of TAIWAN.