Tongyong_Pinyin Tongyong pinyin () was the official romanization of Mandarin Chinese in the Republic of China (Taiwan) between 2002 and 2008. The system was unofficially used between 2000 and 2002, years of study about a new romanization system for the Republic of China. The ROC's Ministry of Education approved the system in 2002 but its use was not mandatory. Since January 1, 2009, Tongyong pinyin is no longer official, due to the Ministry of Education's approval of Hanyu pinyin on September 16, 2008.