ches:
Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air
Defense Forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 3,168,429; fit for military service 1,777,413; reach
military age (19) annually 151,102 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $2.2 billion, 6% of GDP (1992)

*Taiwan, Geography

Location:
East Asia, off the southeastern coast of China, between Japan and the
Philippines
Map references:
Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia
Area:
total area:
35,980 km2
land area:
32,260 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Maryland and Delaware combined
note:
includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,448 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia,
Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by
China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Japanese-administered
Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan
Climate:
tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August);
cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Terrain:
eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in
west
Natural resources:
small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use:
arable land:
24%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
5%
forest and woodland:
55%
other:
15%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
subject to earthquakes and typhoons

*Taiwan, People

Population:
21,091,663 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
15.88 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.54 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
75.04 years
male:
71.84 years
female:
78.39 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.81 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Chinese
Ethnic divisions:
Taiwanese 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
Religions:
mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
Languages:
Madarin C