Ministry to push `go south'

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is helping to promote the government's "go south" policy as a means of cooling China fever among local investors, according to a ministry statement released yesterday. Taiwan's offices in Southeast Asia have been seeking to negotiate with their host countries on the lifting of investment and trade barriers in order to attract Taiwanese investors, the statement said. The ministry has also called on the business community to follow the "go south" policy and diversify investment destinations to minimize their business risks. While promoting the "go south" policy, the ministry said, the government will also respect the domestic market but will seek to protect Taiwan investors' rights and interests in Southeast Asia. It will also participate in activities sponsored by regional organizations in order to step up substantive relations and interactions with Southeast Asia, the statement said.