The Chinese Civil War, fought between the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) and the Communist Party of China, concluded in 1949 with a decisive victory for the Communists led by Mao Zedong. The Nationalists retreated to Taiwan, where they established a separate government. The war resulted in the establishment of the People's Republic of China on the mainland and significant changes in Chinese society and governance. This outcome also marked the beginning of a long-standing division between China and Taiwan. The conflict has had lasting geopolitical implications throughout the 20th century and into the present day.