Part 723

Location: 23 30 N, 121 00 E -- Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Flag ----

Description: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

Geography ---------

Location: Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Geographic coordinates: 23 30 N, 121 00 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area: total area: 35,980 sq km land area: 32,260 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,448 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan

Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year

Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Yu Shan 3,997 m

Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos

Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 55% other: 15%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment: current issues: water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; air pollution; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species natural hazards: earthquakes and typhoons international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Marine Life Conservation

People ------

Population: 21,465,881 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 2,605,495; female 2,436,864) 15-64 years: 69% (male 7,505,344; female 7,252,188) 65 years and over: 8% (male 907,310; female 758,680) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.89% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 15.01 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.52 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.02 years male: 73.43 years female: 78.82 years (1996 est.)