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Taiwan Strait
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Taiwan Strait
Taiwan Strait Map of East Asia, indicating the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan Strait

strait, China Sea
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Also known as: Formosa Strait, T’ai-wan Hai-hsia, Taiwan Haixia
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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Last Updated: • Article History
Also called:
Formosa Strait
Chinese (Wade-Giles romanization):
T’ai-wan Hai-hsia
Or (Pinyin):
Taiwan Haixia
See all related content

News •

Why China will be wary as US, Japan, Philippines forge closer security ties • Apr. 27, 2025, 5:20 PM ET (South China Morning Post)
Why Japan’s unified defence zone proposal with US makes South Korea uneasy • Apr. 26, 2025, 2:31 PM ET (South China Morning Post)
Trump Sends US Warship to China's Coast • Apr. 25, 2025, 8:10 AM ET (Newsweek)
Royal Navy ready to defy China in Taiwan Strait • Apr. 22, 2025, 6:47 AM ET (The Telegraph)
US senator reaffirms support for Taiwan • Apr. 18, 2025, 11:52 PM ET (Taipei Times)

Taiwan Strait, arm of the Pacific Ocean, 100 miles (160 km) wide at its narrowest point, lying between the coast of China’s Fukien province and the island of Taiwan (Formosa). The strait extends from southwest to northeast between the South and East China seas. It reaches a depth of about 230 feet (70 meters) and contains the Pescadores Islands (which are controlled by the government of Taiwan). The chief ports are Amoy in mainland China and Kao-hsiung on Taiwan. The area lies in a typhoon zone.

The strait was named Formosa (“Beautiful”) by Portuguese navigators in the late 16th century; although it is still known in the West by its European name, the Chinese and now most Westerners use the name Taiwan Strait.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica