The political and legal status of Taiwan (or the Taiwan Issue, Mainland Issue or Taiwan Strait Issue as referred to by the Republic of China) hinges on whether Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu should remain effectively independent as territory of the Republic of China (ROC); become unified with the territories now governed by the People's Republic of China (PRC); formally declare independence and become the Republic of Taiwan; as well as whether the existence and legal status as a state ("country") of both the ROC and the PRC is legitimate as a matter of international law, and how much diplomatic recognition either entity receives from the international community.