[joosters]

I'm curious about a rather immaterial point in the corona virus reporting: Why does everyone discuss 'mainland China'? What are they trying to clarify by putting that 'mainland' word in?

It surely can't be Taiwan, since these are Western articles, whose audience probably won't confuse the two. So is it about Hong Kong? That doesn't make much sense either, since most of Hong Kong is on the mainland.

And yet, while these reports all talk about mainland China, they still include Hainan (a large island off the south coast of China). In fact this article has it highlighted in its map as being an area under lockdown. And yet Hainan is quite obviously not a part of the mainland.

So why do writers keep referring to 'mainland' China?

[hadrien01]

'Mainland China' designates a geopolitical area, not a geographical one. It means 'the territory directly controlled by the government of the PRC'. It excludes Taiwan (obviously), Hong Kong, and Macau, but not Hainan.

[101404]

That's just how you call P.R.China (Zhongguo Dalu), excluding the SARs (Hongkong, Macau) and, of course, excluding all the territories that China illegally claims from all it's neighbors (Taiwan, Japan's Senkaku Islands, India's Arunachal Pradesh province, parts of Malaysia, parts of the Philippines, parts of Indonesia, parts of Vietnam, etc.)

[robjan]

"Mainland China" is the internationally accepted way to to distinguish the main part of China from the various Special Administrative Regions and disputed territories. Even the PRC government themselves use this term.

[ohmaigad]

Mainland China is PRC.

[joosters]

So is Hainan!

[ohmaigad]

Then why are you wondering why it is included? Mainland in this case is a geopolitical term.

[joosters]

Because it makes no sense? For all the uses of 'mainland China', it would be simpler to just say 'China', with no loss of clarity. Adding pointless words just for the sake of it, especially when it seems that the author(s) don't mean what the word says, is bad writing.

[robjan]

Hong Kong is inside China but not governed directly by PRC. Most non-Chinese citizens need a visa to enter "Mainland China" but not Hong Kong. Most Chinese people need a permit to enter Hong Kong. So, yes, the distinction is useful.