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>Google is placing a bet on annexation Why would that possibly be a reason to invest in Taiwan? Unless you can somehow imagine that "annexation" is a purely de
by scythe 8y ago
>Google is placing a bet on annexation
Why would that possibly be a reason to invest in Taiwan? Unless you can somehow imagine that "annexation" is a purely de jure arrangement that leaves Taiwan's regulatory structure untouched (very unlikely), any corporate structure you erect will have to be totally rebuilt upon annexation (employment law changes, people move, etc); if you're lucky you can keep the buildings (assuming they aren't bombed).
The better reason IMO would be that Taiwan is at this point cheaper than Japan or South Korea, safer than mainland SE Asia, and has (much) more room for growth than Singapore. As a base of operations in East Asia it is one of the best choices, political stability notwithstanding.
- ilamont 8y agoAnnexation can take place with the direct threat of extreme violence but without a shot being fired, a la Hitler's "Anschluss" of 1938. Under the terms of the 1997 Hong Kong handover, China allowed some institutions to be preserved (albeit greatly watered down) while permitting foreign companies to continue operations and have better access to the larger market (mainland China). Beijing regularly trots out this "One Country, Two Systems" model for Taiwan, something that many Taiwanese reject (recent survey results: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3663870 https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3663870) I agree with your second point. Positioning Taiwan as a center of Asian operations is something Taipei actively promoted in the late 1990s as Hong Kong waned as an international center of business. It never took off then, but I hope it can get some traction now.
- vram22 8y ago> safer than mainland SE Asia Safer in what sense? crime? traffic? other?