Taiwan is an island located off the coast of mainland China across the Taiwan Strait, the East China Sea lies to the north. It is also called the Republic of China (ROC). The Democratic Progressive Party in April 2007 asserted it's power and formed a separate identity from China. High population and industrial waste has caused major pollution problems in many areas of this country.

Taiwan was first inhabited by Taiwanese aborigines. In the 1200s, it would be settled by the Han Chinese then in 1624 the Dutch would establish a commercial base and than a colony. The Dutch would be expelled in 1662 by Koxinga and the Chinese. Taiwan was then ceded to the Japanese after the First Sino-Japanese War. Japan would rule until 1945 when China would take over control after the war.

Taiwan is located off the coast of mainland China, the southwest island of Japan and the north-northwest area of the Philippines.

• • Mahalo's tips on How to Get a Passport
• U.S. Department of State: Taiwan
• Taiwan Tourism.org: Tours
• CTIN: Taiwan Travel Network
• Wikitravel: Taiwan Travel Guide
• Taiwan Embassy: Requirements For A Visa To Enter Taiwan, ROC - Visa Services

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• Wikipedia: Geography of Taiwan

• WorldAtlas.com: Taiwan Map and Information Page

• Geographic.org: Taiwan Geography

• Global Security.org: Taiwan Geography