Geography of Taiwan Geography of Taiwan Taiwan, formerly known as Formosa, is an island in East Asia; located some off the southeastern coast of mainland China across the Taiwan Strait. It has an area of , which includes other nearby islands such as Penghu (). The East China Sea lies to the north, the Philippine Sea to the east, the Luzon Strait directly to the south and the South China Sea to the southwest. The island makes up 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China, which is also known as "Taiwan". Taiwan is a tilted fault block, characterized by the
Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents differences, such as a different color scheme. Newer permits are also valid for 5 years. This entry permit serves also as the "de facto" ID card for ROC nationals who are residents of Taiwan in Mainland China. As a result, the permit can be accepted in cases of real estate purchasing, banking, medical treatment, insurance, employment, and more. Due to its usage as an ID card and the increasing instances of Taiwanese's long-time stay and settlement in Mainland China, the Taiwan Affairs Office announced that effective from 24 September 2008, the serial number of Mainland travel permit for Taiwan residents