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East & Southeast Asia :: Taiwan

- ## Introduction :: TAIWAN

- Background:
  In 1895, military defeat forced China's Qing Dynasty to cede Taiwan to Japan. Taiwan came under Chinese Nationalist control after World War II. Following the communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government under the 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Beginning in the 1950s, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the local population within the governing structure. This process expanded rapidly in the 1980s. In 2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist (Kuomintang or KMT) to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be management of sensitive relations between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of Taiwan's eventual status - as well as domestic priorities for economic reform and growth.

- ## Geography :: TAIWAN

- 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: 35,980 sq km
  land: 32,260 sq km
  water: 3,720 sq km
  note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy islands
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  1,566.3 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  Climate:
  tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); persistent and extensive cloudiness all year
  Terrain:
  eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
  highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m
  Natural resources:
  small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, asbestos, arable land
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 22.7%
  arable land 16.9%; permanent crops 5.8%; permanent pasture NA
  forest: NA
  other: 77.3% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  NA
  Total renewable water resources:
  67 cu km (2011)
  Natural hazards:
  earthquakes; typhoons
  volcanism: Kueishantao Island (elev. 401 m), east of Taiwan, is its only historically active volcano, although it has not erupted in centuries
  Environment - current issues:
  air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status
  Geography - note:
  strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait

- ## People and Society :: TAIWAN

- Nationality:
  noun: Taiwan (singular and plural)
  note: example - he or she is from Taiwan; they are from Taiwan
  adjective: Taiwan (or Taiwanese)
  Ethnic groups:
  Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, indigenous 2%
  Languages:
  Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
  Religions:
  mixture of Buddhist and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
  Population:
  23,415,126 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 13.52% (male 1,632,763/female 1,531,895)
  15-24 years: 13.36% (male 1,606,940/female 1,521,617)
  25-54 years: 47.06% (male 5,505,063/female 5,513,395)
  55-64 years: 13.59% (male 1,556,205/female 1,625,436)
  65 years and over: 12.48% (male 1,348,686/female 1,573,126) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Median age:
  total: 39.2 years
  male: 38.5 years
  female: 39.9 years (2014 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.23% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Birth rate:
  8.47 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 216
  Death rate:
  7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Net migration rate:
  0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Major urban areas - population:
  TAIPEI (capital) 2.666 million; Kaohsiung 1.523 million; Taichung 1.225 million; Tainan 815,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 4.44 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 79.98 years
  male: 76.85 years
  female: 83.33 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Total fertility rate:
  1.12 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 222
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98.5%
  male: 99.7%
  female: 97.3% (2014 est.)

- ## Government :: TAIWAN

- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Taiwan
  local long form: none
  local short form: Taiwan
  former: Formosa
  Government type:
  multiparty democracy
  Capital:
  name: Taipei
  geographic coordinates: 25 02 N, 121 31 E
  time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  includes main island of Taiwan plus smaller islands nearby and off coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 13 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 3 municipalities (shih, singular and plural), and 6 special municipalities (chih-hsia-shih, singular and plural)
  counties: Changhua, Chiayi, Hsinchu, Hualien, Kinmen, Lienchiang, Miaoli, Nantou, Penghu, Pingtung, Taitung, Yilan, Yunlin
  municipalities: Chiayi, Hsinchu, Keelung
  special municipalities: Kaohsiung (city), New Taipei (city), Taichung (city), Tainan (city), Taipei (city), Taoyuan (city)
  note: Taiwan uses a variety of romanization systems; while a modified Wade-Giles system still dominates, the city of Taipei has adopted a Pinyin romanization for street and place names within its boundaries; other local authorities use different romanization systems; names for administrative divisions that follow are taken from the Taiwan Yearbook 2007 published by the Government Information Office in Taipei
  National holiday:
  Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911)
  Constitution:
  previous 1912, 1931; latest adopted 25 December 1946, promulgated 1 January 1947, effective 25 December 1947; revised several times, last in 2005 (2013)
  Legal system:
  civil law system
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Suffrage:
  20 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President MA Ying-jeou (since 20 May 2008); Vice President WU Den-yih (since 20 May 2012)
  head of government: Premier MAO Chi-kuo (President of the Executive Yuan) (since 8 December 2014); Vice Premier CHANG San-cheng, Vice President of the Executive Yuan (since 8 December 2014)
  cabinet: Executive Yuan - ministers appointed by president on recommendation of premier
  elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 14 January 2012 (next to be held in January 2016); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier
  election results: MA Ying-jeou elected president; percent of vote - MA Ying-jeou (KMT) 51.6%, TSAI Ing-wen (DPP) 45.6%, James SOONG Chu-ye (PFP) 2.8%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Legislative Yuan (113 seats; 73 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 34 directly elected in a single islandwide constituency by proportional representation vote, and 6 directly elected in multi-seat aboriginal constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
  elections: Legislative Yuan - last held on 14 January 2012 (next to be held in January 2016)
  election results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - KMT 44.6%, DPP 34.6%, TSU 9.0%, PFP 5.5%, others 6.3%; seats by party - KMT 64, DPP 40, PFP 3, TSU 3, NPSU 2, independent 1
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and approximately 100 judges organized into 8 civil and 12 criminal divisions, each with a division chief justice and 4 associate justices); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 13 justices)
  judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court justices appointed by the president; Constitutional Court justices appointed by the president with approval of the Legislative Yuan; Supreme Court justices appointed for life; Constitutional Court justices appointed for 8-year terms with half the membership renewed every 4 years
  subordinate courts: high courts; district courts; hierarchy of administrative courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [TSAI Ing-wen]
  Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) [Eric Chu Li-lun]
  New Party [YOK Mu-ming]
  Non-Partisan Solidarity Union or NPSU [LIN Pin-kuan]
  People First Party or PFP [James SOONG Chu-ye]
  Taiwan Solidarity Union or TSU [HUANG Kun-huei]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  other: environmental groups; independence movement; various business groups
  note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics; public opinion polls consistently show most Taiwanese support maintaining Taiwan's status quo for the foreseeable future; advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unify with mainland China; advocates of eventual unification predicate their goal on the democratic transformation of the mainland
  International organization participation:
  ADB, APEC, BCIE, ICC (national committees), IOC, ITUC (NGOs), SICA (observer), WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  none; commercial and cultural relations with the people in the United States are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO), a private nonprofit corporation that performs citizen and consular services similar to those at diplomatic posts
  representative: SHEN Lyu-shin (since 1 April 2014)
  office: 4201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
  telephone: [1] 202 895-1800
  Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (branch offices): Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hagatna (Guam), Houston, Honolulu, Kansas City (MO), Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  none; commercial and cultural relations with the people on Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a private nonprofit corporation that performs citizen and consular services similar to those at diplomatic posts
  office:
  telephone: [1] [886] (02) 2162-2000
  FAX: [1] [886] (02) 2162-2251
  other offices: Kaohsiung (Branch Office)
  Flag description:
  red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays; the blue and white design of the canton (symbolizing the sun of progress) dates to 1895; it was later adopted as the flag of the Kuomintang Party; blue signifies liberty, justice, and democracy; red stands for fraternity, sacrifice, and nationalism, white represents equality, frankness, and the people's livelihood; the 12 rays of the sun are those of the months and the twelve traditional Chinese hours (each ray equals two hours)
  National symbol(s):
  white, 12-rayed sun on blue field; national colors: blue, white, red
  National anthem:
  name: "Zhonghua Minguo guoge" (National Anthem of the Republic of China)
  lyrics/music: HU Han-min, TAI Chi-t'ao, and LIAO Chung-k'ai/CHENG Mao-Yun
  note: adopted 1930; also the song of the Kuomintang Party; it is informally known as "San Min Chu I" or "San Min Zhu Yi" (Three Principles of the People); because of political pressure from China, "Guo Qi Ge" (National Banner Song) is used at international events rather than the official anthem of Taiwan; the "National Banner Song" has gained popularity in Taiwan and is commonly used during flag raisings

- ## Economy :: TAIWAN

- Economy - overview:
  Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing government guidance of investment and foreign trade. Exports, led by electronics, machinery, and petrochemicals have provided the primary impetus for economic development. This heavy dependence on exports exposes the economy to fluctuations in world demand. Taiwan's diplomatic isolation, low birth rate, and rapidly aging population are other major long-term challenges.
  Free trade agreements have proliferated in East Asia over the past several years. Following the landmark Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) signed with China in June 2010, Taiwan in July 2013 signed a free trade deal with New Zealand - Taipei’s first-ever with a country with which it does not maintain diplomatic relations - and, in November, inked a trade pact with Singapore. However, follow-on components of the ECFA, including a signed agreement on trade in services and negotiations on trade in goods and dispute resolution, have stalled. In early 2014, the government bowed to public demand and proposed a new law governing the oversight of cross-Strait agreements, before any additional deals with China are implemented; the legislature has yet to vote on such legislation, leaving the future of ECFA up in the air as President MA enters his final full year in office. MA has portrayed ECFA as Taiwan’s key to greater participation in East Asia’s free trade networks.
  Taiwan's total fertility rate of just over one child per woman is among the lowest in the world, raising the prospect of future labor shortages, falling domestic demand, and declining tax revenues. Taiwan's population is aging quickly, with the number of people over 65 expected to account for nearly 20% of the island's total population by 2025.
  The island runs a trade surplus, largely because of its surplus with China, and its foreign reserves are the world's fifth largest, behind those of China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland. In 2006 China overtook the US to become Taiwan's second-largest source of imports after Japan. China is also the island's number one destination for foreign direct investment. Taiwan since 2009 has gradually loosened rules governing Chinese investment on the island and has also secured greater market access for its investors in the mainland. In August 2012, the Taiwan Central Bank signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cross-Strait currency settlement with its Chinese counterpart. The MOU allows for the direct settlement of Chinese RMB and the New Taiwan dollar across the Strait, which has helped Taiwan develop into a local RMB hub.
  Closer economic links with the mainland bring greater opportunities for Taiwan’s economy but also pose new challenges as the island becomes more economically dependent on China at a time when political differences remain unresolved. During 2014, the press paid increasing attention to domestic economic issues, while pushing aside the debates over trade liberalization that were a hallmark of MA’s tenure. The media focused on the divide between Taiwan’s “haves” and “have nots,” providing extensive coverage of public frustration with stagnant wages, skyrocketing housing prices, and the difficulty of finding decent entry-level jobs.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $1.075 trillion (2014 est.)
  $1.036 trillion (2013 est.)
  $1.013 trillion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 22
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $529.6 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.7% (2014 est.)
  2.2% (2013 est.)
  2.1% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $45,900 (2014 est.)
  $44,200 (2013 est.)
  $43,200 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Gross national saving:
  35.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  33.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
  32.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 53.2%
  government consumption: 14.5%
  investment in fixed capital: 21.6%
  investment in inventories: 0.3%
  exports of goods and services: 70%
  imports of goods and services: -59.5%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 1.9%
  industry: 34.1%
  services: 64.1% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  rice, vegetables, fruit, tea, flowers; pigs, poultry; fish
  Industries:
  electronics, communications and information technology products, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals
  Industrial production growth rate:
  5.6% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Labor force:
  11.54 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 5%
  industry: 36.1%
  services: 58.9% (2014 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  4% (2014 est.)
  4.2% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Population below poverty line:
  1.5% (2012 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 6.4%
  highest 10%: 40.3% (2010)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  33.8 (2012)
  32.6 (2000)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Budget:
  revenues: $85.12 billion
  expenditures: $91.72 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  16.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -1.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Public debt:
  33.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  33.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
  note: data for central government
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.2% (2014 est.)
  0.8% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Central bank discount rate:
  1.88% (31 March 2015)
  1.88% (31 December 2011)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  2.88% (31 January 2015 est.)
  2.88% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Stock of narrow money:
  $483.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $449.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Stock of broad money:
  $1.249 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.186 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $786.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $748.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $831.9 billion (31 December 2012)
  $784.1 billion (31 December 2011)
  $738.3 billion (31 December 2010)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Current account balance:
  $52.65 billion (2014 est.)
  $44.02 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Exports:
  $318 billion (2014 est.)
  $304.6 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  Exports - commodities:
  semiconductors, petrochemicals, automobile/auto parts, ships, wireless communication equipment, flat display displays, steel, electronics, plastics, computers
  Exports - partners:
  China 27.1%, Hong Kong 13.2%, US 10.3%, Japan 6.4%, Singapore 4.4% (2012 est.)
  Imports:
  $277.5 billion (2014 est.)
  $267.4 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Imports - commodities:
  oil/petroleum, semiconductors, natural gas, coal, steel, computers, wireless communication equipment, automobiles, fine chemicals, textiles
  Imports - partners:
  Japan 17.6%, China 16.1%, US 9.5% (2012 est.)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $429.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $421.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Debt - external:
  $191.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $170.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $66.78 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $65.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $259.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $246.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 23
  Exchange rates:
  New Taiwan dollars (TWD) per US dollar -
  31.718 (2014 est.)
  29.95 (2013 est.)
  29.62 (2012 est.)
  29.47 (2011 est.)
  31.648 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: TAIWAN

- Electricity - production:
  235 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Electricity - consumption:
  224.8 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  48.48 million kW (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  72.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  12.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  6.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  8.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Crude oil - production:
  1,726 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 194
  Crude oil - imports:
  885,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 13
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  2.38 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  920,200 bbl/day (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  974,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 23
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  255,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  304,700 bbl/day (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Natural gas - production:
  379.4 million cu m (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Natural gas - consumption:
  16.21 billion cu m (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  Natural gas - imports:
  17.69 billion cu m (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  6.229 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  307.1 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21

- ## Communications :: TAIWAN

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 14.04 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 30.4 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: provides telecommunications service for every business and private need
  domestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalized
  international: country code - 886; roughly 15 submarine fiber cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  5 nationwide television networks operating roughly 75 TV stations; about 85% of households utilize multi-channel cable TV; national and regional radio networks with about 170 radio stations (2008)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 21, FM 143, shortwave 1 (2008)
  Television broadcast stations:
  76 (5 television networks with 46 digital and 30 analog stations) (2007)
  Internet country code:
  .tw
  Internet users:
  total: 16.1 million
  percent of population: 70.0% (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 36

- ## Transportation :: TAIWAN

- Airports:
  37 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 35
  over 3,047 m: 8
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
  914 to 1,523 m: 8
  under 914 m: 2 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 2
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  under 914 m:
  1 (2013)
  Heliports:
  31 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  condensate 25 km; gas 802 km; oil 241 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 1,597 km
  standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge (345 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 1,102 km 1.067-m gauge (692 km electrified); 150 km 0.762-m gauge
  note: the 0.762-gauge track belongs to three entities: the Forestry Bureau, Taiwan Cement, and TaiPower (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Roadways:
  total: 42,520 km
  paved: 42,078 km (includes 1,348 km of highways and 737 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 442 km (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Merchant marine:
  total: 112
  by type: bulk carrier 35, cargo 20, chemical tanker 1, container 31, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 2
  foreign-owned: 3 (France 2, Vietnam 1)
  registered in other countries: 579 (Argentina 2, Cambodia 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 25, Indonesia 1, Italy 10, Kiribati 2, Liberia 94, Marshall Islands 8, Panama 328, Philippines 1, Sierra Leone 7, Singapore 77, South Korea 1, Thailand 1, UK 11, Vanuatu 1, unknown 8) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Chilung (Keelung), Kaohsiung, Hualian, Taichung
  container port(s) (TEUs): Chilung (Keelung) (1,749,388), Kaohsiung (9,363,289), Taichung (1,383,578)
  LNG terminal (import): Yung An (Kaohsiung), Taichung

- ## Military :: TAIWAN

- Military branches:
  Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service Forces Command, Armed Forces Police Command
  Military service age and obligation:
  18-35 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 1-year service obligation; women may enlist; women in Air Force service are restricted to noncombat roles; reserve obligation to age 36 (Army); the Ministry of Defense is in the process of implementing a voluntary enlistment system over the period 2010-2015, although nonvolunteers will still be required to perform alternative service or go through 4 months of military training (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 6,183,567
  females age 16-49: 6,006,676 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 5,074,173
  females age 16-49: 4,951,088 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 166,190
  female: 155,306 (2010 est.)

- ## Transnational Issues :: TAIWAN

- Disputes - international:
  involved in complex dispute with Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam over the Spratly Islands, and with China and the Philippines over Scarborough Reef; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; Paracel Islands are occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; in 2003, China and Taiwan became more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea where all parties engage in hydrocarbon prospecting
  Illicit drugs:
  regional transit point for heroin, methamphetamine, and precursor chemicals; transshipment point for drugs to Japan; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin; rising problems with use of ketamine and club drugs

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