Facts

Official name: Chung-hua Min-kuo (Republic of China)

Capital: Taipei

Area: 14,000 square miles (36,400 square kilometers)

National government: Multiparty republic consisting of presidency, five governing Yuan (executive, legislative, judicial, control, examination) and the National Assembly.

Chief of state: President elected directly by voters; limited to two, four-year terms.

Head of government: Premier, appointed by president; heads of Executive Yuan, principal administrative body.

National Assembly: 334 members serve four-year terms; may amend constitution, recall or impeach president and vice president, ratify presidential appointments.

Legislative Yuan: Main lawmaking body; 225 members serve three-year terms.

Monetary unit: 1 New Taiwan dollar equals 100 cents.

Population: 21.9 million (1999 estimate)

Language: Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese, Hakka