Taiwan and larger than Belgium. The island of Taiwan has an area of , and lies some from the southeastern coast of mainland China across the Taiwan Strait. The East China Sea lies to the north, the Philippine Sea to the east, the Bashi Channel of the Luzon Strait directly to the south, and the South China Sea to the southwest. Its shape is similar to a sweet potato, giving rise to the slang term "hanji" ("sweet potato" in Hokkien) used by Taiwanese Hokkien speakers to refer to people of native Taiwanese descent. The island is characterized by the contrast between
Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents The Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents, also known as Taiwan Compatriot Permit, is a type of travel document issued by Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China (MPS) to nationals of the Republic of China (Taiwan) with household registration in the Taiwan Area for entry into Mainland China. The Republic of China passport is not considered as a valid travel document by the People's Republic of China (except when entering at Changsha airport and holding two photos). The permit serves as the main travel document and identity document for ROC