litary manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,554,373 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,017,643 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 201,413 (2000 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $8.042 billion (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.8% (FY98/99)

@Taiwan:Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: 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; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku
Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does China

Illicit drugs: considered an important heroin transit point; major
problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamines and heroin

______________________________________________________________________

TAJIKISTAN

@Tajikistan:Introduction

Background: Tajikistan has experienced three changes in government and
a civil war since it gained independence in 1991 when the USSR
collapsed. A peace agreement among rival factions was signed in 1997,
but implementation has progressed slowly. Nevertheless, a number of
opposition political parties have been legalized and are participating
in elections, suggesting that the country may be stabilizing
politically. Russian-led peacekeeping troops are based throughout the
country, and Russian-commanded border guards are stationed along the
border with Afghanistan.

@Tajikistan:Geography

Location: Central Asia, west of China

Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 71 00 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
total: 143,100 sq km
land: 142,700 sq km
water: 400 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Land boundaries:
total: 3,651 km
border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid
to polar in Pamir Mountains

Terrain: Pamir and Alay mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana
Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Syrdariya 300 m
highest point: Pik Imeni Ismail Samani 7,495 m

Natural resources: hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown
coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten

Land use:
a