Taiwanese businessmen have invested in tens of thousands of Chinese factories that provide white-collar jobs such as accounting, management, production planning and quality control to their compatriots.

Expanding demand in expertise in other fields -- notably asset management, business administration, research and development, marketing, medical sciences and aviation -- have also prompted more Taiwanese to try their luck in a place that for more than half a century has been the island's arch enemy.

According to 104 Corporation, a leading Taiwanese jobs website, some 15,000 people -- or 6 percent of those posting their resumes -- were exploring prospects in China in December.

The number of posts offered on the 104 site by companies in Greater China, which includes China, Hong Kong and Macao, in December was 8,000.

"The applicants wish to position themselves in the huge, growing market. Those with experience look for career advancement and fresh graduates hope to develop their potential there," said Max Fang, public relations manager of the 104 Corporation.

A sluggish domestic economy coupled with political animosity between the pro-independence ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the opposition have accelerated the exodus of industries to China, now Taiwan's leading overseas investment destination.

"Along with the industries went capital and talent. But in this global village, it is only natural that the rising giant is luring more money and brains from the rest of the world, especially Taiwan," said Song Kuo-cheng, a researcher on Taiwan-China affairs at Chengchi University's Institute of International Relations.

"But the worst part of the braindrain is the flight of top-level researchers in biochemistry, medicine, computer science, DNA engineering and aviation materials," Soong said.

Language similarities and close historical and cultural bonds across the narrow Taiwan Strait that separates Taiwan from China mean Taiwanese are at ease working there despite hostilities between the two governments, said Song.

Taiwan and China separated in 1949 at the end of a civil war but Beijing still considers the island part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to invade if it declares independence.

But business and civilian exchanges have boomed in the past decade amid various liberalisations adopted by both sides.

Local business people have channeled an estimated total of 150 billion US dollars to China, which took some 41 percent of the island's total exports in the first 11 months of last year.

An estimated one million Taiwanese, or 4.3 percent of the island's population, are either working or living in China, according to the Mainland Affairs Council which handles cross-strait civilian affairs.

Most of those employed are related to manufacturing and business, but in recent years, professionals in the service industry as well in cultural fields -- art, education, communications and entertainment -- also joined the China gold rush.

Peking University last year hired three of Taiwan's top professors to teach at its Guanghua School of Management funded by noted Taiwanese enterpreneur Yin Yan-liang.

Last month, 12 Taiwanese pilots, averaging 40 years old, followed eight colleagues to join China's Sichuan Airlines, reportedly for higher pay and better benefits.

"Given the great demand in China's commercial aviation business, I really fear that more of our experienced pilots will move to (China). Something must be done here to keep them home. Aviation skills cannot be trained overnight, you know," said a pliot who asked not to be identified.

In September, 23-year-old Zeng Yilun joined China's Shenzhen Airlines to become the first Taiwanese to serve as cabin chief with a Chinese airline, after working as a flight attendant for several other airliners there.

People working in medical fields have also been encouraged after Beijing relaxed a ban early in 2007 to allow Taiwanese to practice medicine on short-term contracts.

Song said 15 percent of young university graduates hope to start their careers in China and some private colleges in Taiwan are offering courses on China's industries and job market.

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