Taiwan's semi-conductor industry wants a piece of the Chinese action. as China arms up to compete with Taiwan, Korea, and other smaller chip manufacturing centres.

However, Taiwanese policy makers are in a twixt between increasing dependence on China from Taiwanese investment in their industry, and ensuring competitive health of the industry in Taiwan.

Some useful statistics from the Taipei Times cited above...

* The production value of Taiwan's emerging chip-design industry is expected to grow 24 percent to NT$148 billion this year from NT$119.2 billion last year.

* By 2005, China's consumption of semiconductors is projected to reach US$41 billion.

* China exported US$13.1 billion in computers last year, up 19 percent from the previous year.