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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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)

Internet country code [time series]

.tw

Internet users [time series]

total: 16.1 million | percent of population: 70.0% (2009) | country comparison to the world: 36

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 21, FM 143, shortwave 1 (2008)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 14.04 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 30.4 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

76 (5 television networks with 46 digital and 30 analog stations) (2007)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

rice, vegetables, fruit, tea, flowers; pigs, poultry; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $85.12 billion | expenditures: $91.72 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-1.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Central bank discount rate [time series]

1.88% (31 March 2015) | 1.88% (31 December 2011) | country comparison to the world: 121

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

2.88% (31 January 2015 est.) | 2.88% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Current account balance [time series]

$52.65 billion (2014 est.) | $44.02 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Debt - external [time series]

$191.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $170.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

33.8 (2012) | 32.6 (2000) | country comparison to the world: 93

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Exchange rates [time series]

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.)

Exports [time series]

$318 billion (2014 est.) | $304.6 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 21

Exports - commodities [time series]

semiconductors, petrochemicals, automobile/auto parts, ships, wireless communication equipment, flat display displays, steel, electronics, plastics, computers

Exports - partners [time series]

China 27.1%, Hong Kong 13.2%, US 10.3%, Japan 6.4%, Singapore 4.4% (2012 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$529.6 billion (2014 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$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 - composition, by end use [time series]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 1.9% | industry: 34.1% | services: 64.1% (2014 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$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

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

3.7% (2014 est.) | 2.2% (2013 est.) | 2.1% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Gross national saving [time series]

35.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | 33.4% of GDP (2013 est.) | 32.5% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 6.4% | highest 10%: 40.3% (2010)

Imports [time series]

$277.5 billion (2014 est.) | $267.4 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Imports - commodities [time series]

oil/petroleum, semiconductors, natural gas, coal, steel, computers, wireless communication equipment, automobiles, fine chemicals, textiles

Imports - partners [time series]

Japan 17.6%, China 16.1%, US 9.5% (2012 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5.6% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Industries [time series]

electronics, communications and information technology products, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.2% (2014 est.) | 0.8% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Labor force [time series]

11.54 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 5% | industry: 36.1% | services: 58.9% (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$831.9 billion (31 December 2012) | $784.1 billion (31 December 2011) | $738.3 billion (31 December 2010) | country comparison to the world: 18

Population below poverty line [time series]

1.5% (2012 est.)

Public debt [time series]

33.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | 33.9% of GDP (2013 est.) | note: data for central government | country comparison to the world: 107

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$429.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $421.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6

Stock of broad money [time series]

$1.249 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.186 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$259.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $246.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$66.78 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $65.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$786.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $748.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$483.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $449.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 12

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

16.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Unemployment rate [time series]

4% (2014 est.) | 4.2% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

307.1 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 21

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194

Crude oil - imports [time series]

885,900 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Crude oil - production [time series]

1,726 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

2.38 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97

Electricity - consumption [time series]

224.8 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

72.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

6.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

12.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

8.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 211

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

48.48 million kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Electricity - production [time series]

235 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

16.21 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 195

Natural gas - imports [time series]

17.69 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19

Natural gas - production [time series]

379.4 million cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

6.229 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

974,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

255,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

304,700 bbl/day (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

920,200 bbl/day (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Geography

Area [time series]

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 [time series]

slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

1,566.3 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m | highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status

Geographic coordinates [time series]

23 30 N, 121 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 22.7% | arable land 16.9%; permanent crops 5.8%; permanent pasture NA | forest: NA | other: 77.3% (2011 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

earthquakes; typhoons | volcanism: Kueishantao Island (elev. 401 m), east of Taiwan, is its only historically active volcano, although it has not erupted in centuries

Natural resources [time series]

small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, asbestos, arable land

Terrain [time series]

eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west

Total renewable water resources [time series]

67 cu km (2011)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Taipei | geographic coordinates: 25 02 N, 121 31 E | time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

previous 1912, 1931; latest adopted 25 December 1946, promulgated 1 January 1947, effective 25 December 1947; revised several times, last in 2005 (2013)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Taiwan | local long form: none | local short form: Taiwan | former: Formosa

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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 | telephone: [1] [886] (02) 2162-2000 | FAX: [1] [886] (02) 2162-2251 | other offices: Kaohsiung (Branch Office)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

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%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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)

Government type [time series]

multiparty democracy

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation [time series]

ADB, APEC, BCIE, ICC (national committees), IOC, ITUC (NGOs), SICA (observer), WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

civil law system

Legislative branch [time series]

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

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911)

National symbol(s) [time series]

white, 12-rayed sun on blue field; national colors: blue, white, red

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

20 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 6,183,567 | females age 16-49: 6,006,676 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 5,074,173 | females age 16-49: 4,951,088 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 166,190 | female: 155,306 (2010 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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 [time series]

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)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

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.)

Birth rate [time series]

8.47 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 216

Death rate [time series]

7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Ethnic groups [time series]

Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, indigenous 2%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 79.98 years | male: 76.85 years | female: 83.33 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 98.5% | male: 99.7% | female: 97.3% (2014 est.)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

TAIPEI (capital) 2.666 million; Kaohsiung 1.523 million; Taichung 1.225 million; Tainan 815,000 (2015)

Median age [time series]

total: 39.2 years | male: 38.5 years | female: 39.9 years (2014 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Taiwan (singular and plural) | note: example - he or she is from Taiwan; they are from Taiwan | adjective: Taiwan (or Taiwanese)

Net migration rate [time series]

0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Population [time series]

23,415,126 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Population growth rate [time series]

0.23% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177

Religions [time series]

mixture of Buddhist and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.12 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 222

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

37 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 107

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

total: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 1 (2013)

Heliports [time series]

31 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

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

Pipelines [time series]

condensate 25 km; gas 802 km; oil 241 km (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

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 [time series]

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