The Ministry of Economic Affairs is considering setting up a technology review committee to facilitate the approval of China-bound Taiwanese high-tech investments, Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang (施顏祥) said yesterday.
The committee would consist of members from different ministries and industry pundits, and would review the applications based on technology, investment and finances, Shih said.
Restrictions on China-bound high-tech investments are expected to be lifted soon and prominent liquid-crystal-display panel makers and chip foundries will be allowed to widen their investments across the Taiwan Strait, Shih said last month.
However, when asked if the new measures would be made public before the Lunar New Year, Shih wouldn’t commit to a timeframe.
He reiterated the ministry’s stance that companies’ top technologies would be required to stay in Taiwan and that their investment priority must also be at home.
Taiwanese firms can only invest in plants that are less advanced than those in Taiwan and their investment amount in China should not be higher than their investment amount in Taiwan.
Shih said the ministry was reviewing how the US and South Korean governments were allowing their respective chip and panel makers to invest in China.
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