That has translated to the world’s biggest maker of computer chips — which power everything from medical equipment to cellphones — announcing bigger investments in the U.S. last month after a boost from the Biden administration. Soon afterward, a Taiwanese semiconductor company said it was ending its two-decade-long run in mainland China amid a global race to gain the edge in the high-tech industry.
These changes at a time of an intensifying China-U.S. rivalry reflect Taiwan’s efforts to reduce its reliance on Beijing and insulate itself from Chinese pressure while forging closer economic and trade ties with the United States, its strongest ally. The shift also is taking place as China’s economic growth has been weak and global businesses are looking to diversify following supply chain disruptions during the pandemic.
In a stark illustration of the shift, the U.S. displaced mainland China as the top destination for Taiwan’s exports in the first quarter of the year for the first time since the start of 2016, when comparable data became available. The island exported $24.6 billion worth of goods to the U.S. in the first three months, compared with $22.4 billion to mainland China, according to Taiwan’s official data.
Meanwhile, the island’s investments in mainland China have fallen to the lowest level in more than 20 years, dropping nearly 40% to $3 billion last year from a year earlier, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs. Yet, Taiwan’s investments in the U.S. surged ninefold to $9.6 billion in 2023.
Washington and Taipei signed a trade agreement last year, and they’re now negotiating the next phase. U.S. lawmakers also have introduced a bill to end double taxes for Taiwanese businesses and workers in the U.S.
This story is from the May 25, 2024 edition of Techlife News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 25, 2024 edition of Techlife News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
NASA SAYS MORE SCIENCE AND LESS STIGMA ARE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND UFOS
NASA said this week that the study of UFOs will require new scientific techniques, including advanced satellites as well as a shift in how unidentified flying objects are perceived.
EUROPEAN UNION ACCUSES FACEBOOK OWNER META OF BREAKING DIGITAL RULES WITH PAID AD-FREE OPTION
European Union regulators accused social media company Meta Platforms of breaching the bloc’s new digital competition rulebook by forcing Facebook and Instagram users to choose between seeing ads or paying to avoid them.
CONFUSED BY ALL THE TIKTOK TRENDS? THIS GLOSSARY MIGHT HELP
Anyone who shops or uses the internet probably has encountered a TikTok trend - whether they know it or not.
CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY ON SHOW AT EURO 2024 IS CHANGING THE FACE OF SOCCER
From smart-enabled match balls and artificial intelligence to cryogenic recovery chambers, soccer is being transformed by the cuttingedge technology available to players, coaches and officials.
EVER FEEL EXHAUSTED BY SWIPING THROUGH DATING APPS? YOU MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING BURNOUT
While plenty of happy couples can trace their meet-cute moment to an online dating app, many others find the never-ending process of likes, swipes, taps and awkward DMs that go nowhere to be exhausting — leading to a phenomenon known as “dating app burnout.”
NASA ASTRONAUTS WILL STAY AT THE SPACE STATION LONGER FOR MORE TROUBLESHOOTING OF BOEING CAPSULE
Two NASA astronauts will stay longer at the International Space Station as engineers troubleshoot problems on Boeing’s new space capsule that cropped up on the trip there.
JAPAN SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES AN ADVANCED EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE ON ITS NEW FLAGSHIP H3 ROCKET
Japan successfully deployed an upgraded Earth observation satellite for disaster response and security after it was launched on a new flagship H3 rocket Monday.
US NEW-VEHICLE SALES BARELY ROSE IN THE SECOND QUARTER AS BUYERS BALKED AT STILL-HIGH PRICES
U.S. new-vehicle sales rose only slightly in the second quarter, despite larger discounts and slightly lower prices.
GOOGLE FALLING SHORT OF IMPORTANT CLIMATE TARGET, CITES ELECTRICITY NEEDS OF AI
Three years ago, Google set an ambitious plan to address climate change by going “net zero,” meaning it would release no more climatechanging gases into the air than it removes, by 2030.
AS AI GAINS A WORKPLACE FOOTHOLD STATES ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WORKERS DON'T GET LEFT BEHIND
With many jobs expected to eventually rely on generative artificial intelligence, states are trying to help workers beef up their tech skills before they become outdated and get outfoxed by machines that are becoming increasingly smarter.