Taiwan Strait
Two coasts divided by one contested channel
Nations 25
The Geography
Taiwan Strait places Taiwan opposite China’s Fujian coast in a square 1600×1600 frame. The Penghu and Kinmen islands punctuate the central water, while mountain chains rise behind both main shores. With 35% land and 25 city or regional starts, the battlefield is maritime but never far from a substantial coastline.
The History
Austronesian peoples lived on Taiwan before large-scale Chinese settlement. The Qing incorporated the island in 1683, Japan took it in 1895, and the Republic of China government moved there in 1949 after losing the mainland—making the strait a lasting political and military fault line.
The Battlefield
Each shore can develop internally, yet naval crossings quickly create a second front. The offshore islands are valuable stepping stones but difficult to hold without support. Taiwan’s long north-south shape encourages linear expansion; Fujian offers more depth and several inland routes. Secure ports along a connected stretch of coast, then cross where islands shorten the approach rather than attacking the widest water.