Cyborlink · International Business Etiquette
Asia · Country Profile

Doing business in Taiwan

A working reference on Taiwanese business etiquette, culture, and cross-cultural communication — updated for the contemporary workplace.

TaiwanCapital: Taipei
Language: Mandarin Chinese
Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (NT$)
§ 01 — Orientation

Introduction

Taiwan, formally the Republic of China (ROC), is an island nation located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. Migration from mainland China to Taiwan began as early as AD 500, with major waves arriving in the 17th century and again in 1949 when the Nationalist government retreated to the island following the Chinese Civil War. Taiwan has a population of approximately 24 million. The official language is Mandarin Chinese. Most businesspeople speak and understand English. It is governed by a multiparty democratic system. Although the Taiwanese practice a variety of religions, the culture is strongly influenced by Confucianism.

Taiwan is one of the most remarkable economic success stories of the modern era. A small island with few natural resources, it has become a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing and advanced electronics. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), headquartered in Hsinchu, fabricates over 90% of the world’s most advanced chips — the processors that power smartphones, data centers, artificial intelligence systems, and military technology worldwide. This single company makes Taiwan arguably the most strategically important piece of real estate in the global technology supply chain. Beyond TSMC, Taiwan is home to major technology companies including Foxconn (the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer), MediaTek, ASUS, and Acer.

Critical context for international business: The People’s Republic of China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has never renounced the use of force to achieve reunification. China’s military activity around Taiwan — including naval exercises, air incursions, and diplomatic pressure on nations that maintain relations with Taipei — has intensified in recent years. The United States maintains an ambiguous but substantive relationship with Taiwan, providing defensive arms sales under the Taiwan Relations Act while officially recognizing Beijing. Any business engaging with Taiwan should be aware of the geopolitical sensitivity of the cross-strait relationship, as it affects supply chain planning, investment risk assessment, and diplomatic considerations.

Fun Fact

When this website was created, Taiwan had a very young population — almost 50 percent were under thirty. Today, that picture has changed dramatically. Taiwan now has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, and the median age has risen to approximately 43. This demographic shift is reshaping the workforce, driving automation investment, and influencing government policy on immigration and retirement.

§ 02 — Cultural Analysis

Hofstede Analysis

Taiwan — Six-Dimension Scores
Power Distance
58
Individualism
17
Masculinity
45
Uncertainty Avoidance
69
Long-Term Orientation
93
Indulgence
49
Source: Hofstede Insights. Scores on a 0–100 scale.

The Geert Hofstede analysis for Taiwan is similar to the model for China. Long-Term Orientation is the highest-ranking factor at 93 — the second highest in the world behind South Korea’s 100. As with other Asian countries, relationships are a primary part of the culture. Individualism is the lowest ranking at 17. Like the Chinese, the Taiwanese are a strongly Collectivist society where group loyalty, family obligation, and long-term relationships take precedence over individual interests.

Moderate Power Distance (58) reflects a hierarchical society where seniority is respected, but Taiwan’s democratic institutions and vibrant civil society create more space for individual expression than in mainland China. Uncertainty Avoidance (69) drives a preference for structured business environments with clear rules and procedures.

Masculinity (45) places Taiwan slightly below the midpoint, reflecting a culture that values consensus and quality of life alongside competitive achievement. Indulgence (49) sits near the midpoint, reflecting a balance between restraint and personal enjoyment.

Read the full Hofstede framework →

Religion.  Taiwan is religiously diverse and tolerant. Buddhism and Taoism are the most widely practiced faiths, often blended together in daily life. Approximately 35% identify as Buddhist, 33% as Taoist, and roughly 4% as Christian (predominantly Protestant). Many Taiwanese practice elements of multiple traditions simultaneously. Confucianism, while not a formal religion, profoundly shapes Taiwanese values around family, education, hierarchy, and social conduct. Due to the philosophical similarity of Buddhist and Shinto societies, these have been consolidated for the purposes of Hofstede’s study, and these countries have the closest correlation with Hofstede’s Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI).

§ 03 — Dress & Presence

Appearance

Dress, clothing,
body language
& gestures
  1. Conservative dress for men is changing rapidly to a more open style, due largely in part to the younger staff.
  2. Women should dress conservatively as well with a simple skirt and blouse.
  3. Casual activities should reflect a modest dress.
  4. Appearance should be neat and clean.
  5. Winking is inappropriate in any situation.
  6. Do not touch another person’s shoulders.
  7. Do not touch or point at anything with your feet, they are considered dirty.
  8. Do not touch anyone’s head, particularly the head of someone’s child. Children are held in very high regard in Taiwan.
§ 04 — Conduct

Behavior

Dining, gifts,
meetings &
general conduct
  1. Business hours are very similar to Western countries and may sometimes be longer as the Taiwanese people are very hard working.
  2. Business relationships are based on respect.
  3. Meet face-to-face if possible.
  4. Elders make the decisions.
  5. Always include a senior executive in meetings.
  6. Candor is not appreciated.
  7. Divide topics into segments for presentations.
  8. Direct presentations to the senior ranking individual.
  9. Have all new products registered and/or patented to avoid copying.
  10. Translate all written documents.
  11. Subtlety is key.
  12. Modify tone and volume as not to appear loud.
  13. Do not visit a home without an invitation.
  14. Do not discard food from your mouth back to your plate or bowl.
  15. Good topics during dinner include art, family, and Chinese sightseeing.
  16. Gift giving is common practice in business — see gift giving section.
  17. Good choices are items with your company logo on them for your first visit to Taiwan.
  18. Give and receive gifts with both hands.
  19. Gifts will not be opened in your presence.
  20. Food is a good gift.
  21. Avoid giving knives, scissors or cutting tools as they symbolize the cutting off of friendships.
§ 05 — Communication

Communication

Greetings,
introductions &
conversation
  1. A nod of your head is an appropriate greeting.
  2. Handshakes are for casual meetings and introductions.
  3. Bowing slightly is a good way to show respect with your hands to your sides and your feet together — more Japanese than Chinese.
  4. Business has become westernized and both men and women shake hands.
  5. “Have you eaten?” is a standard greeting. It is more of a rhetorical question.
  6. Always wait for introductions.
  7. Punctuality is of great importance in Taiwan.
§ 06 — Further Reading

Resources

Government & Data

News & Culture

Cultural Framework