On December 26, 2025, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Chiu Chui-cheng recently attended a seminar and delivered a speech, highlighting the government’s economic and trade strategy of “Taiwan First” and the goal of “rooted in Taiwan, global presence, and worldwide marketing” in response to the complex and ever-changing cross-strait and international economic landscape. He also compared the economic development between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, emphasizing Taiwan’s gradual reduction of economic reliance on mainland China.
The Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council and National Science Council commissioned the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research to hold a seminar titled “The Impact and Prospects of Trump’s New Policies on the Economy of Mainland China and Cross-Strait Economic Relations” at the International Conference Center of National Taiwan University Hospital.
Chairman Chiu Chui-cheng pointed out that in reviewing the international situation in 2025, President Trump’s “America First” policy, coupled with the implementation of reciprocal tariffs to reduce trade deficits and encourage the reshoring of manufacturing to the U.S., has led to unprecedented restructuring of the global economic and trade order.
He emphasized that the competition and cooperation between the U.S. and China continues to escalate, with a mix of trade wars and national security considerations shaping various regulatory policies. Economic and trade policies are now highly politicized, institutionalized, and long-term security strategic issues, affecting all countries involved.
Regarding mainland China, Chairman Chiu noted the new adjustments and challenges faced in economic development models and external economic strategies. He questioned the unconventional measures proposed in the CCP’s Fifteenth Five-Year Plan to promote breakthroughs in key core technologies such as semiconductors, advanced equipment, and biomanufacturing, asking what exactly constitutes these unconventional measures.
Chairman Chiu further highlighted the emphasis in the Central Economic Work Conference of the CCP on next year’s focus on domestic demand, simultaneous emphasis on independent technological innovation, a focus on artificial intelligence, and deepening and expanding in these areas. He raised doubts on how the shift to domestic-led development is intended to replace the export-oriented approach that previously drove China’s economic growth.
“In the highly complex global economic and trade situation, Taiwan’s economic development has shown remarkable resilience,” Chiu Chui-cheng said. “Taiwan’s economic growth rate this year is over 7%, surpassing mainland China. There have been significant changes in the economic and trade structure across the strait.” The proportion of Taiwan’s investment in mainland China as a part of total outbound investment has decreased from 83.8% in 2010 to 3.7% in January to November 2025, representing an 80% decrease.
Chiu Chui-cheng added that Taiwan’s exports to mainland China, including Hong Kong, as a percentage of total exports have decreased from 43.9% in 2020 to 26.8% in 2025, a 17% decrease, reaching a historical low since 2006. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s trade and investment with the U.S. and ASEAN have shown significant growth.
Overall, Taiwan has been reducing its dependence on mainland China gradually. The government has formulated the economic and trade strategy of “Taiwan First,” emphasizing “rooted in Taiwan, global presence, and worldwide marketing” in response to the complex and ever-changing cross-strait and international economic and trade situations. The strategy for cross-strait economic and trade relations focuses on strengthening Taiwan’s economic security and resilience with a principle of “strengthening the foundation and reinforcing Taiwan” and risk management.
The organizers invited Liu Meng-jun, Director of the First Institute of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, and Huang Jian-qun, Director of the Mainland Affairs Office of the Industrial Association, to give keynote speeches on “Outlook and Challenges of the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan of Mainland China” and “Review of Cross-Strait Economic and Trade and Current Situation of Taiwanese Business Investment.”
The first session of the seminar focused on “Assessment of the Escalation of U.S.-China Trade Friction and the Development of Cross-Strait Economic and Trade under the Internal Circulation Policy of Mainland China.” Meanwhile, the second session addressed “Taiwan’s Strategic Positioning and Response under Regional Economic Integration,” and the third session discussed “Policy Recommendations to Enhance Cross-Strait Economic and Trade Policies and Taiwan Business Support Mechanisms.”
Following the three sessions, there was a Q&A discussion exchange. The organizers indicated that about 170 participants from various sectors including industry, government, academia, and research participated in the seminar. Through the professional and rational discussions and exchanges by experts and scholars, the event aimed to provide important references for the government’s economic and trade policies and planning concerning mainland China and cross-strait relations.