taipei taiwan seek boost regional soft power throw weight behind dozens company invest around asia promote areas education tourism look reduce economic reliance china self-ruled island step presence region time relations taipei beijing nosedive since tsai ing-wen pro-independence democratic progressive party presidential election last year taiwan must play even active prominent role order participate future region tsai say international policy-related forum taipei week redefine taiwan role region one high priorities president taiwan target deep economic political relations 10 countries association southeast asian nations asean six south asian countries well australia new zealand move analysts say likely rile beijing tensions rise since tsai assume office may 2016 hong kong seize nine singaporean armor vehicles november military exercise taiwan china warn foreign countries maintain military tie taiwan view wayward province addition panama sao tome principe break diplomatic tie taiwan favor china leave taiwan 20 countries maintain formal relations seventy well-known company include cathay life insurance co century iron steel industrial co ltd kenda rubber industrial co consider fresh expand investments region accord economic ministry official cathay spokesman confirm company eye opportunities southeast asia century iron steel plan expand exist investments myanmar accord spokesman kenda rubber project vietnam indonesia consider investments regional market particularly india spokesman say taipei say provide company great consult service investment protection overseas operations earmark additional 2.81 billion 93 million 2018 budget policy 63 percent year policy feature new initiatives include visa-free travel visitors several countries scholarships internships overseas students plan train 1,000 doctor taiwan four-year period push already see success taiwan export 18 southbound countries grow fast five years 13.5 percent first half 2017. number students southbound countries taiwan rise 9.7 percent 2016 academic year versus previous year southbound tourist visit climb 36.7 percent first half government officials acknowledge however work need do policy goal broad ambitious minister john deng oversee policy implementation tell reuters deepen relationships long road since inception 1994 original southbound policy heavily focus trade overseas investments tsai new southbound policy concentrate several industries particularly medical cooperation industrial supply chain regional agriculture industry talent cultivation innovation-based industries government review investment agreements philippines vietnam deng say hop review agreements southbound partner countries philippines indonesia big market strong growth potential likely destinations taiwanese company expand say tieying dbs economist taiwan attempt strong regional presence nevertheless face challenge include resistance china heavily promote belt road initiative taiwan official stance work alongside china push region unpublished strategy recommendation paper guide presidential advisor see reuters describe china attitude toward new southbound policy antagonistic china likely pressure big company order influence taiwan cross-strait policy direction paper say china taiwan affairs office refer question new southbound policy response give may say move run counter rule economic development base considerations political aim harm taiwan economy interest taiwanese businesses already least one taiwan university national sun yat-sen university face difficulties set educational center philippines tell one philippines university taiwan facility campus would feasible due china preferences accord two people familiar matter instead center set business district manila contact reuters national sun yat-sen university say meet difficulties secure office space partner universities future hop give students broad educational opportunities include ones specific taiwan language culture accord chih-wen kuo vice president international affairs university matter taiwan china think taiwan act behind scenes gain something politically diplomatically say titus chen associate professor national sun yat-sen university beijing likely utmost frustrate taiwan industrial educational investment move taiwan seek build soft power retool southbound policy