Taiwan Strait

Geographical location

The Formosastraße (sometimes called Taiwan Strait ) is the 180 km wide strait between the Chinese province of Fujian to the west and the island of Taiwan (formerly Formosa ) in the east, connecting the East China Sea in the north and the South China Sea in the south. It is one of the most frequented waterways ( container traffic along the Chinese coast ) on the many fishing boats are also on the way.

In geostrategic terms, is the Formosastraße important because it separates the Republic of China on Taiwan from the People's Republic of China on the mainland. In the 1950s, here was the danger of a military confrontation between the People's Republic of China on the one hand, and the Republic of China in alliance with the United States on the other side. Mao Zedong was in sight off the coast of Fujian lying, but managed from Taiwan island of Quemoy bomb.

As part of the opening-up policy under Deng Xiaoping began fishing on both sides with a rain smuggling. Since the end of the 20th century hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese came as tourists, to visit family and as investors to Fujian.