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Geography...
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Geography: Taiwan is an island off the southeast coast of the China
mainland. In addition to the main island of Taiwan, Taiwan comprises
15 islands in the Taiwan group and 64 islands in the Penghu (Pescadores)
Archipelago. The total area of Taiwan, including the islands, is 35,981
sq. km (13,892 square miles). Of the total, the Taiwan island group
accounts for 13,843 square miles, while the Penghu Archipelago, located
to the west of Taiwan, has an area of 49 square miles. Taiwan is bounded
to the north by the East China Sea, to the east by the Pacific Ocean,
to the south by the Bashi Channel, which separates it from Philippines,
and to the west by Taiwan Straits, which separates it from the China
mainland. Taiwan forms part of the great island system rimming the
western Pacific Ocean. It was once known as Formosa -- meaning beautiful
-- a name given it by Portuguese explorers. Since 1949 when the Kuomingtang
government fled the mainland and ruled the island, the government
of the People's Republic of China has claimed jurisdiction over Taiwan,
in a solemn stance that the island is an inseparable part of China.
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