strait extending for more than 200 miles (320 km) between the islands of Taiwan (north) and Luzon, Philippines (south). It connects the South China Sea (west) with the Philippine Sea (east). The strait is a series of channels, dotted with islands in its southern reaches—i.e., the Batan and Babuyan island groups. The main channels are Bashi (north), Balintang (central), and Babuyan (south). It is on a main shipping route.