Taiwan is an island situated in East Asia in the Western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. Mandarin is officially recognized by the Republic of China as the national language and is spoken by the vast majority of residents. About 70% of the people in Taiwan belong to the Hoklo ethnic group and speak both Taiwanese as their mother tongue, and Mandarin. The cultures of Taiwan are a hybrid blend of various sources, incorporating elements of traditional Chinese culture, Japanese culture, traditional Confucianist beliefs, and increasingly Western values.