"Preparations for China's Invasion" Global Companies Entering Taiwan Expand Review of Countermeasures

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] According to a report by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 2nd, since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (Party Congress) held last month, a growing number of global companies operating in Taiwan are preparing countermeasures due to concerns over a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that, based on inquiries made between the 19th and 28th of last month to 50 major American and Japanese companies operating in Taiwan, 23 companies stated they are preparing countermeasures in case China invades Taiwan. Four companies have already established such measures, while 19 are in the process of preparing them. Among the remaining companies, 21 responded that they are considering preparing countermeasures.

An executive from a Japanese semiconductor company said, "We felt a hardline stance from China at this Party Congress and sense that the steps toward (Taiwan unification) have come even closer. We plan to expedite similar responses."

A representative countermeasure is the preparation of evacuation plans for resident employees. An executive from a Japanese financial firm stated, "We have created a reservation list for 150 people so that resident employees and their families can return to their home country at any time." Some companies had already secured one-year valid airline tickets to Narita Airport in Japan in advance. Another senior official from a financial company explained, "In an emergency, there is a high possibility that air routes will be blocked and civilian aircraft will not operate. If that happens, it will become a race against time before the blockade," emphasizing the importance of preparing for quick boarding.

Another company has prepared evacuation plans not only for resident employees but also for Taiwanese staff to leave the country. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun explained that companies are surveying Taiwanese employees in advance about their willingness to evacuate in case of an emergency, and some companies are considering evacuation destinations not only in Japan but also in Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. Additionally, some companies have secured satellite phones in advance, anticipating that communications might be cut off if a Chinese invasion of Taiwan becomes a reality.

There are also companies that predict and prepare scenarios in advance regarding whether to maintain business operations in the event of an emergency. Mizuho Bank Taipei emphasized, "From this stage, it is important to have sufficient discussions with Taiwanese executives and reach ample agreements in advance regarding the return of Japanese resident employees and business operations after their return in case of an emergency." A senior official from a semiconductor parts company also mentioned, "In an emergency, we need to consider how to destroy technical documents kept in Taiwan to prevent technology leakage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.