A delivery of semiconductor chip production equipment is being seen as an opportunity to ease tensions between Taiwan and China.

The rare chartered cargo flight, planned for this week, will deliver manufacturing equipment to China for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world's largest contract chip maker. 

The flight is also notable because Taiwan has placed tough restrictions on the export of technology to China.

However, the 0.25-micron process 8in wafer production equipment being moved from a TSMC plant in Taiwan to the company's chip foundry in Shanghai is far from cutting edge.

Sources in Taiwan have suggested that it is being shifted overseas to make way for more advanced equipment.

TSMC, which manufactures most of its chips in Taiwan, reported almost $5bn in sales during the first six months of this year, an increase of more than 38 per cent over the same period in 2005.

The cargo will be carried by Taiwan's national flag carrier, China Airlines, which, despite its name, does not normally fly to mainland China.

The airline has close links with Taiwan's opposition nationalist party, which favours stronger ties with China than the island's government.