THE TAIWAN FUND, INC.
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

February 1, 2002
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)

The Taiwan Fund, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
         
Delaware   811-04893   042942862
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification Number)
     
225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts   02110
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(212) 662-2789
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 


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Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.
SIGNATURES


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Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.

         Pursuant to Regulation FD Rules 100-103, The Taiwan Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) furnishes the February 2002 Monthly Review on the Fund by the Fund’s investment adviser.

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SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

           
Dated: March 25, 2002          
 
           
 
           
 
    By:   /s/ Haichi Vicki Hau

 
        Name: Haichi Vicki Hau  
        Title:   Secretary  
 
           

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THE TAIWAN FUND, INC. REVIEW

HSBC Asset Management (Taiwan) Limited   February 2002    
24/F No. 99, Tunhwa S. Rd., Sec. 2       Tel: (8862) 2325-7888
Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C       Fax: (8862) 2706-5371

Portfolio Review

         Taiwan GDP fell by 1.9% during the fourth quarter of 2001, as compared to 4.2% during the third quarter of 2001. This led to a decline in GDP of 1.9% for the year as a whole, which is lower than the original forecast for a decline of 2.7%. On an adjusted quarter to quarter basis, GDP rose by 1.7%. The better-than-expected fourth quarter of 2001, GDP report bodes well for the outlook for growth this year.,

         In February, the Taiwan stock market entered into the consolidation stage with a range between 5,500 to 6,000 for the TAIEX. Average total daily turnover, an indication of investor sentiment, dwindled to two-thirds of the level of volume traded in January. Capital flow continues its rotation among sectors. Pulp and paper was the best performing sector, up 4.8% for the month. The technology sector moved in line with the index, down 3.08%.

         The Fund’s investment strategy continues to focus on cyclical and outsourcing plays. The most encouraging guidance came from UMC this month. The company guided a 20% sequential quarter to quarter growth, indicating a broad-based recovery. Given prospects of an improving business environment, we have increased UMC weighting in the Fund’s active portfolio. For outsourcing plays, Accton (networking), Realtek (IC design), Quanta (notebook), Austek (motherboard) and Beng (communication) remains our top holdings.

Core & Active Portfolio Asset Allocation

                         
As of 02/28/02                        

                       
    % of Core   % of Active   % of
    Portfolio   Portfolio   TAIEX
Semiconductor
    24.43       17.58       22.54  
Electronics
    20.48       32.72       18.97  
Banking
    14.58       0       14.97  
PC & Peripherals
    13.31       19.37       15.83  
Telecommunication
    7.18       10.59       6.32  
Plastics
    6.32       0.01       4.15  
Retail
    3.86       0       0.83  
Textile
    3.79       0       2.98  
Auto
    1.68       0       0.66  
Steel
    1.60       0       1.96  
Rubber
    1.28       0       0.41  
*C. S. & Software
    0.81       0.76       0.67  
Chemical
    0.68       0       1.08  
Transportation
    0       0       1.67  
Electricals
    0       0       1.07  
Others
    0       0.19       5.89  
Total
    100.00       81.22       100.00  
Cash
            18.78          
 
Total Active Portfolio Net Asset: US$94.85M
Total Core Portfolio Net Asset: US$135.25M

Top 10 Holdings of Active Portfolio

         
As of 02/28/02        

       
    % of Active Portfolio
AU Optronics Corp.
    8.68  
Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg.
    5.99  
Benq Corp.
    4.86  
Accton Technology Corp.
    4.77  
Asustek Computer Inc.
    4.18  
Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    4.11  
United Micro Electronics
    3.78  
Mediatek Incorporation
    3.72  
Phoenix Precision Technology
    3.05  
ProMos Technologies Inc.
    2.96  
 
   
 
Total
    46.10  

Total Fund Asset Allocation

                 
As of 02/28/02                

               
    % of   % of
    Total Fund   TAIEX
Electronics
    24.89       18.97  
Semiconductor
    21.41       22.54  
PC & Peripherals
    16.84       15.83  
Banking
    7.72       14.97  
Telecommunication
    7.62       6.32  
Plastics
    3.70       4.15  
Textile
    3.04       1.61  
Auto
    0.98       0.66  
Steel
    0.93       1.96  
Retail
    0.88       0.83  
*C. S. & Software
    0.80       0.67  
Rubber
    0.75       0.41  
Chemical
    0.40       1.08  
Transportation
    0       1.67  
Electricals
    0       1.07  
Others
    2.21       7.26  
Total
    92.17       100.00  
Cash
    7.83          
 
Total Net Asset: US$230.10M
(*)=Computer Service & Software

Top 10 Holdings of Total Fund Portfolio

         
As of 02/28/02        

       
    % of Total Portfolio
Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg.
    8.17  
United Micro Electronics
    7.32  
AU Optronics Corp.
    5.66  
Asustek Computer Inc.
    3.39  
Quanta Computer Inc.
    3.08  
Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    2.69  
Mediatek Incorporation
    2.66  
Benq Corp.
    2.60  
Chinatrust Commercial Bank
    2.52  
ProMos Technologies Inc.
    2.42  
 
   
 
Total
    40.51  

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Premium/Discount of TWN

(PREMIUM DISCOUNT LINE GRAPH)

         
NAV: US$13.74   Price: US$12.34   Prem.: -10.19%
No. of Shares: 16.4M        

Performance Comparison

    Total Returns    
(Return in US$)   As of 02/28/02   Unit:%
                                                         
    Last   Last   Last   2001   2000   1999   1998
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    1 Mth   3 Mth   6 Mth                                
   
 
 
                               
TWN
    -2.28       23.78       27.81       6.57       -45.08       47.29       -15.31  
ROC
    -2.80       23.06       20.39       -6.57       -39.94       35.86       -18.42  
Taipei
    0.12       26.39       18.19       -15.69       -50.94       13.87       -11.90  
Formosa
    -2.06       27.21       21.82       9.35       -51.04       19.57       -13.85  
Formosa Growth
    -1.91       25.70       24.69       4.46       -51.94       38.49       -5.47  
New Taipei
    1.01       32.26       29.65       2.33       -45.59       33.91       2.40  
Index
    -3.36       25.90       24.31       10.42       -46.53       34.16       -20.31  

Taiwan Fund (Since Launch 1986/12/31): 634.72%

Performance Chart

(CORE PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE CHART)

(ACTIVE PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE CHART)

Taiwan’s Macro Economics Review

(TAIWAN ECONOMICS LINE GRAPH)

Liquidity conditions remain ample with M1B continuing an upward trend since April 2001 as a result of the aggressive easing of monetary policy. Industrial production and export orders have bottomed out during the fourth quarter of 2001, with the electronic sector leading the way.


*   Disclaimer: This report is based on information believed by us to be reliable. No representation is made that it is accurate or complete. The figures mentioned above are unaudited. This report is not an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned.
*   Effective. from 1st November 1999, the daily NAV of the Fund is available at Lipper and CDA Weisenberger, or you may call toll free (800)636-9242.
*   Please notify us immediately if you are having problems receiving this telecopy.

Deputy Fund Manager: Li-Jeng Chen

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