Almost all the name brand aluminum bikes are fabricated in Taiwan by I think it is three factories. No matter if they have a North American, European or Asian company logo. To my way of thinking what you pay extra for getting a name brand is the external quality assurance of the branding company that is putting their logo on the frame. I tour on a US designed, Taiwan made, Shimano equipped, Bianchi logoed very lightweight triple butted aluminum cyclocross bike.

I tour extensively over USFS roads and even single track. I have jack-knifed the bike with an over loaded trailer and once watched it tumble over a twenty foot high cliff. I don't dismiss "the aluminum will fail" myths and before every tour I carefully inspect all the welds. But with 60,000+ kilometers the concern has lost some of its edge. What's worse, by some accounts, is my bike has carbon forks.

Beside if the frame fails you will have an interesting story to tell or perhaps your grieving kin will have a company to sue.