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'''Taiwan''', also '''Formosa''', is an island state and a democracy in East Asia. The population was 23.57 million in 2017 and the dominant language is Chinese.<ref name=MOFA2 /> In 2012, it had the 20th largest economy in the world, according to the [[International Monetary Fund]].<ref>Taiwan's GDP for 2012 was $902 billion (PPP).</ref> Neighboring states include the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) to the west, Japan to the east and northeast, and the Philippines to the south. The capital is [[Taipei]] in the north of the island. Known for its natural beauty, the country is 245 miles long and 89 miles wide, with a steep central mountain range and plains on the west coast.

'''Taiwan''', also '''Formosa''', is an island state and a democracy in East Asia. The population was 23.57 million in 2017 and the dominant language is Chinese.<ref name=MOFA2 /> In 2012, it had the 20th largest economy in the world, according to the [[International Monetary Fund]].<ref>Taiwan's GDP for 2012 was $902 billion (PPP).</ref> Neighboring states include the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) to the west, Japan to the east and northeast, and the Philippines to the south. The capital is [[Taipei]] in the north of the island. Known for its natural beauty, the country is 245 miles long and 89 miles wide, with a steep central mountain range and plains on the west coast.

The Dutch East India Company had a trading post on Taiwan in the seventeenth century. The island was acquired by Japan in 1895 as a result of the Sino-Japanese War. It was returned to China in 1945 at the end of World War II. The current division between Taiwan and the mainland originated in 1949, when the [[Chinese Nationalist Party]], or KMT, was defeated by the communists in the Chinese Civil War, fled the mainland, and relocated to Taiwan.

The Dutch East India Company had a trading post on Taiwan in the seventeenth century. The island was acquired by Japan in 1895 as a result of the First Sino-Japanese War. It was returned to the Republic of China in 1945 at the end of World War II. The current division between Taiwan and the mainland originated in 1949, when the [[Chinese Nationalist Party]], or KMT, was defeated by the communists in the Chinese Civil War, fled the mainland, and relocated to Taiwan.

The [[United Nations]] and most non-communist states continued to recognize "Nationalist China" in Taiwan as the legitimate government of China until 1971. At this time, the Nationalists were expelled from the U.N. and China's seat was reassigned to Beijing. The communist government in Beijing claims Taiwan as a renegade province. President Jimmy Carter withdrew U.S. recognition of Taiwan in 1979, and Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act to regulate relations between the two countries.

The [[United Nations]] and most non-communist states continued to recognize "Nationalist China" in Taiwan as the legitimate government of China until 1971. At this time, the Nationalists were expelled from the U.N. and China's seat was reassigned to Beijing. The communist government in Beijing claims Taiwan as a renegade province. President Jimmy Carter withdrew U.S. recognition of Taiwan in 1979, and Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act to regulate relations between the two countries.