Late Development Through and Beyond Deep Integration: The Evolution of Taiwan's Economic Links with Southeast Asia.

This research note investigates the nature of Taiwan's economic links with Southeast Asia. While it is assumed that the economic links are driven by investment and formal trade agreements, we identify a more intertwined dynamic of "deep integration" through Global Value Chains (GVCs). We first examine the macro data of Taiwanese direct investment and bilateral trade with ASEAN member countries. Next, we discuss "the trade-investment-service- IP nexus " through the case of the textile and apparel industry in Taiwan, which evolved with the GVC led by brand marketers in advanced countries, cementing economic linkages between Taiwan and Southeast Asia. We then explore new patterns of Taiwanese development through exporting "good enough innovations " and "total solutions " in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]