Taiwan

Taiwan, an island about 100 miles off the southeastern coast of China, has been considered a renegade province by the Communist Chinese government since the defeated Nationalist government fled there at the end of China's civil war in 1949.

Beijing has been working to diplomatically isolate Taiwan and maintains a standing threat to invade the island if it appears to be pursuing independence rather than eventual reunion with the mainland.

Taiwan's recent leaders have also favored eventual reunification -- but only if China's communist system is abolished and China drops the threat of force.

Land and People | History |
| Travel | Financial | Weather

DEMOGRAPHICS:

Population:
21,585,000
Average life span:
72 male, 79 female
Average income (US$):
$5,000
GDP per capita (US$):
$12,270
Literacy rate:
86%

THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE:

Capital:
Taipei
Size:
13,900 square miles (36,002 sq. km)
(Slightly larger than Maryland)
Government type:
Republic
Political leaders:
President Lee Teng-hui
Prime Minister Lien Chan
Religions:
Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian (93%); Christian (4.5%)
Languages:
Mandarin Chinese (official); Taiwanese; Hakka dialects

MODERN HISTORY

EARLY HISTORY

FINANCIAL

Monetary unit:
Taiwan Dollar

CNN TRAVEL INFORMATION:

CNN WEATHER INFORMATION

Forecasts:
Taipei
Kaohsiung
Taichung
T'ainan
Hualien
Pingtung
Tia Nan
Forecast and satellite maps:
Asia forecast map
Asia satellite image