Geography of Taiwan and has an area of (including some minor islands). The shape of the main island is similar to a sweet potato oriented in a south-to-north direction, and therefore Taiwanese, especially the Min Nan speakers, often call themselves "children of the Sweet Potato". The central point of the island is the Geographic Center of Taiwan in Puli Township, Nantou County. The southernmost point of the island is the Taiwan Southernmost Point in Hengchun Township, Pingtung County. The island of Taiwan is separated from the southeast coast of China by the Taiwan Strait, which ranges from at its widest point to at
The Conflict Over the Sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands -- between Taiwan (ROC), China (PRC), & Japan Jiajing Period of the Ming Dynasty, Japanese pirates invaded China’s southeast coast of China frequently. China was forced to implement effective jurisdiction over the Diaoyu Islands and other islands and patrolled the sea. In the 40th year of Ming Jiajing (1561), Zheng Ruozeng’s "Wanli Coastal Defense Map" included the Diaoyu Islands and eventually recognized these islands as a part of their coastal defense system. In the Qing Dynasty’s royal history inspection report of Taiwan and local compilation of the Fujian Province, they claimed Taiwan was officially ruled under the jurisdiction of the Qing Dynasty in the 22nd year of Kangxi