Taiwan shifts investment focus from China to U.S., Germany

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A recent report from Nikkei Asia, released on Friday (Dec.29), reveals a significant shift in Taiwan's overseas investment patterns, with investments in China reaching their lowest point in a decade.

Taiwanese investments in China now account for just over 10 percent of the island's total foreign direct investment, falling 34 percent to US＄29 billion this year, making up only 12 percent of the total.

Contrastingly, Taiwan's overall foreign direct investments have surged 87 percent to US＄257 billion through November.

Also, investments in the United States have increased ninefold to US＄96 billion, representing about 37 percent of total outbound investment. Investment in Germany, largely driven by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), has increased 25-fold to $39 billion.

Sun Ming-te, director of the Business Development and Research Center at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, commented on the trend, suggesting that ongoing U.S.-China tensions could further decrease Taiwan's investments in China.