From Vietnam to Thailand, tech suppliers face tougher battle as China moves in

TAIPEI/PENANG, Malaysia -- Chinese tech suppliers are taking the battle for business to Southeast Asia, where Taiwanese and other rivals have long been helping the likes of Google and Apple expand production.

Google was one of the first global technology companies to ask suppliers to build production capacity outside China due to escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington. Foxconn, Compal Electronics, Quanta Computer, Pegatron and Inventec, all longtime Taiwanese suppliers, were the major pillars that helped Google -- and other U.S. tech giants -- quickly diversify away from China.