Taiwan is an island country located off the southeastern coast of China with a population of over 23 million people. It has a capitalist economy that was formerly guided by the government but is now driven by foreign trade, especially in electronics and other high-tech industries. Taiwan has a highly educated workforce and relies on research and development to drive its economic growth. The country has a large textile industry, including production of nylon 6,6, which was invented in the US and is now a major Taiwanese export.