What is an international driver's license? Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as an international driver's license. What we refer to as an international driver's license, or IDP, is actually an International Driving Permit, which is a translated document certifying that one holds a valid driver's license in another country. Authorized by relevant international organizations under the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic, it is issued to drivers who already hold a license in their home country. Its primary purpose is to eliminate obstacles encountered by drivers abroad due to varying requirements for driver's licenses across different countries.
The original intent of the IDP was for cross-border travelers, so it is only valid for one year. It requires re-application upon expiration, and the cost is not insignificant; therefore, it is not highly cost-effective unless there is a specific, urgent need.
Furthermore, since Taiwan is one of the contracting parties (regions) to this agreement, it is unlikely that mainland China will join this agreement in the foreseeable future; thus, a mainland driver's license cannot be used to apply for one directly.
Driving abroad and in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan with a domestic driver's license
Although China is not a contracting party to the IDP, the number of outbound tourists from China has increased significantly in recent years. To attract more Chinese tourists, governments around the world have increasingly recognized Chinese driver's licenses. Currently, in nearly 200 countries worldwide, one can rent a car using a domestic driver's license plus a translation.
For example, as mentioned by a respondent above, France has officially signed a mutual recognition and exchange agreement for driver's licenses with mainland China.
In fact, except for Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, India, and Sri Lanka, a Chinese driver's license can be used directly in most regions you can think of.
The scope of use for a domestic driver's license is very broad, so there is no significant demand for an international driver's license.