(2001 est. pop.22.4 million). Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), is an island about 100 miles (161 kilometers) off the southeast coast of China. It is roughly shaped like a tobacco leaf. The origin of the Chinese name Taiwan is unknown, but some scholars suggest it may be a phonetic rendering of an aboriginal name for the island. It is also known in the West as Formosa, or "beautiful island," a name given it by Portuguese explorers. Taiwan is approximately 36,000 square kilometers in size. Taipei, in the north of the island, is its largest city and.....
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