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.