Geography of Taiwan its narrowest. Part of the continental shelf, the Strait is no more than deep, and has become a land bridge during glacial periods. To the south, the island of Taiwan is separated from the Philippine island of Luzon by the -wide Luzon Strait. The South China Sea lies to the southwest, the East China Sea to the north, and the Philippine Sea to the east. Smaller islands of the archipelago include the Penghu islands in the Taiwan Strait west of the main island, with an area of , the tiny islet of Xiaoliuqiu off the southwest coast, and Orchid Island
Taiwan Province, People's Republic of China the PRC claims Taiwan to be its rightful territory, it recognises that Taiwan is outside its actual territory and does not maintain a shadow government or government-in-exile of Taiwan Province. However, its parliament includes legislators to represent Taiwan, most of whom are mainland people of Taiwanese descent. However, one member of the National CPC's Congress (Lu Li'an) was born and grew up in Taiwan (in response the Taiwanese government revoked her citizenship). In deference to the PRC's claim, the United Nations for official purposes calls the Taiwan Area "Taiwan, Province of China". The People's Republic of China was founded in