Note
Legal notes on concepts in Taiwanese law especially as they appear in current events
25 September, 2007
Taiwanese Investment in China
On Monday (Sept. 24), the Chinese-language China Times, ran a series of articles (now behind the China Times paywall) on Taiwanese companies in China focusing on a new wave of Taiwanese investments in second and third tier cities in the north and west. While officials from Taiwan's cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Commission estimate the total amount of Taiwanese investment at US$150 billion, the China Times gives some interesting statistics on investments by companies listed on Taiwanese exchanges.
- Listed Taiwanese companies with investments in China: 2/3
- Estimated number of Taiwanese SMEs with China investments: 10,000
- China investments by listed Taiwanese companies through Q1: c. US$20 billion
- Listed firm with largest China investments: Nanya Plastics (c. US$822 million)
- Current export dependence on China: 21.58%
- Growth of export dependence on China 1995-2005: 400%
- Stated 2005 profits in China by listed Taiwanese companies: US$2.6 billion
- Stated 2006 profits in China by listed Taiwanese companies: US$1.77 billion
- Profits from Chinese investments remitted back to Taiwan through Q1 2007: US$828.5 million
- Taiwanese companies listed in Hong Kong: 50 (expected to be 60 by end of 2007)
- Taiwanese who reside in China for more than 180 days: 750,000
Another noteworthy figure is the number of Taiwanese residing in China for more than 180 days per year, which the paper puts at 750,000 including dependents. This is a significant number to be sure, but is less than the figure of one million or more frequently reported in the English-language media.
Although Taiwanese businesses operating in China face many of the same challenges as other foreign businesses do and must never be assumed to enjoy the same home court advantages that Chinese firms may have, they can be valuable partners because they speak the language, share a common cultural background, and have experience both in China and often internationally.
It is also worth noting that projects with Taiwanese businesses can be secured with the considerable assets that many have back in Taiwan and where they are subject to a mature legal system and independent courts.
Tagged: commercial , corporate
15 September, 2007
Online Sources of English Translations of Taiwanese Law
The first two databases listed are public and bilingual. Both have English pages with links to translations of many of Taiwan's statutes, regulations, and judgments. The third, Lawbank, is a commercial service but deserves special mention because it also includes a searchable collection of administrative letters of interpretation (Chinese only) and English translations of varying quality unavailable elsewhere.
Some other web pages providing translations of Taiwanese laws in specific areas are listed below. It should be noted the home pages of most Taiwan's government agencies provide English translations of selected key laws and regulations in the agency's jurisdiction. The new National Immigration Agency and the Council of Labor Affairs are important examples.
- Capital markets law
- Intellectual property law
- Competition law
- Environmental law
- Business and industrial law
- Banking law Tax law
- Insurance law
The primary and centralized source for new laws, regulations, and administrative acts and decrees is the Executive Yuan Gazette Online. While the full announcements are only available in Chinese, their abstracts are expertly translated and updated every weekday.
Paul Cox leads the Winkler Partners Translation Department.
