Taiwan's Location on the World Map

Taiwan (Republic of China) is an island nation in East Asia, located:

• ~180 km (110 mi) off the southeastern coast of mainland China, across the Taiwan Strait.
• North: Japan (Ryukyu Islands / Okinawa ~400 km).
• South: Philippines (Batanes Islands ~250 km; Luzon ~370 km).
• West: Mainland China (Fujian Province).
• East: Pacific Ocean (Philippine Sea).

Coordinates

Approx. 23.5° N, 121° E. Tropic of Cancer crosses central Taiwan.

Strategic Position

• First island chain (US strategic concept).
• Key maritime chokepoint: Taiwan Strait (global shipping, semiconductor supply chain).
• Subtropical climate; central mountain range (Yushan 3,952 m).

Political status: De facto independent (own government, military, currency, elections); claimed by PRC; UN non-member (since 1971). Most countries maintain unofficial relations.