摘要：
In response to Economic Coercion and Geopolitics, Taiwan has pursued strategies to reduce its economic dependency on China, but sector-level analysis reveals mixed adaptation among many industries. This paper explores the question: What factors influence sectors in Taiwan to persist in their established trade patterns despite policy initiatives aimed at diversification? Using a mixed-methods approach, we analyze trade data and conduct interviews with sector experts to identify trends in Taiwan’s trade activities. We find that sectors vary significantly in their derisking behavior. While certain industries have diversified sourcing to alternative markets, others remain largely tied to Chinese suppliers due to high operational costs and the absence of comparable alternatives. Additionally, our study identifies cases where apparent dependencies are mitigated by China’s reliance on Taiwanese exports, complicating the narrative of vulnerability. This paper argues that derisking strategies should consider not only the diversification of supply chains but also the underlying asymmetries in trade relations, offering broader implications for economic policies aimed at reducing geopolitical risks. The study contributes to ongoing discussions on economic security, especially for economies that share complex trade relationships with dominant neighbors.
