Civil war broke out in 1946, ending in a victory by Mao Zedong's Communist forces and the creation of the People's Republic of China. From 1949 until his death, Chiang led the Chinese Kuomintang KMT government in exile in Taiwan

From 1972 onward, however, Taiwan's preferred status (especially in relation to the United States) was threatened by improving U.S.-China relations. In 1979, four years after Chiang died, the United States broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan and established full relations with the People's Republic of China.

Overview of Chinese history 1911 - 1949 | Khan Academy |

'Sapere aude'