China has become Taiwan's biggest export market, replacing the Island Republic's longtime ally, the US.

The countries' armed forces may be glaring at each other across the Taiwan Straits, but according to figures released by the Taiwanese government, and reported by Chinese news agency Xinhua, exports to mainland China were $2.2bn in January, up 51.8% on the year.

Imports from the mainland were $477m, up 1.6%. The main contributor to Taiwan's increased exports was LCD-based products, such as notebook computers, flat panel monitors and cell phones.

No doubt business on both sides of the straits will be examining the figures closely to see how much of China's technology imports were incorporated into finished products for re-export. China has been Taiwan's biggest market since last November.

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