In an apparent effort to bypass the government's "no haste, be patient" (
The move is seen as a violation of the official ban on high-tech investments in China.
According to local media last week, Taiwan computer makers such as Quanta Computer Inc (廣達), Compal Electronics Inc (仁寶), Twinhead International Corp (
Regulation on investment in China is expected to be relaxed sometime next year.
To enhance their international market competitiveness by taking advantage of inexpensive production costs in China, Taiwan makers have agreed with their US and Japanese clients such as Dell Computer Corp (戴爾), Compaq (康柏), and Sharp (夏普) to begin to ship notebook computers made in their mainland factories next year.
Quanta, which received the green light from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (
According to Quanta Chairman Barry Lam (
"Poor production capacity may become a future crisis for the industry," Lam said.
Quanta, the island's biggest notebook computer maker, is expected to pump out 2.8 million units this year and will seek to match expected 2001 market demand for 4.5 million units.
Currently, Quanta supplies about 3.6 million units a year from its factories in Taiwan.
The company is banking on its mainland factories to help boost the company's total output.
Currently, nine of Taiwan's top-10 notebook makers have set up factories in China. First International Computer Inc (
Because the economics ministry is currently re-evaluating the government's regulations on investment in China, notebook computer makers are expected to further expand their production lines there.
DEFENSE: The first set of three NASAMS that were previously purchased is expected to be delivered by the end of this year and deployed near the capital, sources said Taiwan plans to procure 28 more sets of M-142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as nine additional sets of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), military sources said yesterday. Taiwan had previously purchased 29 HIMARS launchers from the US and received the first 11 last year. Once the planned purchases are completed and delivered, Taiwan would have 57 sets of HIMARS. The army has also increased the number of MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) purchased from 64 to 84, the sources added. Each HIMARS launch pod can carry six Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, capable of
TRAJECTORY: The severe tropical storm is predicted to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday, and would influence the nation to varying degrees, a forecaster said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it would likely issue a sea warning for Tropical Storm Podul tomorrow morning and a land warning that evening at the earliest. CWA forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) said the severe tropical storm is predicted to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving west at 21kph and packing sustained winds of 108kph and gusts of up to 136.8kph, the CWA said. Lin said that the tropical storm was about 1,710km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, with two possible trajectories over the next one
Tropical Storm Podul strengthened into a typhoon at 8pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, with a sea warning to be issued late last night or early this morning. As of 8pm, the typhoon was 1,020km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, moving west at 23kph. The storm carried maximum sustained winds of 119kph and gusts reaching 155kph, the CWA said. Based on the tropical storm’s trajectory, a land warning could be issued any time from midday today, it added. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張竣堯) said Podul is a fast-moving storm that is forecast to bring its heaviest rainfall and strongest
CRITICISM: It is deeply regrettable that China, which is pursuing nuclear weapons, has suppressed Taiwan, which is pursuing peace, a government official said Representative to Japan Lee Yi-yang (李逸洋) yesterday accused Beijing of interference after Taiwan’s official delegation to the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony in Japan was assigned seating in the “international non-governmental organizations [NGO]” area. “Taiwan is by no means an international NGO, but a sovereign nation that is active on the international stage,” Lee said. Lee and Chen Ming-chun (陳銘俊), head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Fukuoka, attended the ceremony in Nagasaki yesterday, which marked the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city. That followed Lee’s attendance at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday