Taiwanese law enforcement said that a Chinese Apple supplier has supposedly been operating illegally in Taiwan and has been trying to poach tech talent, and that a US-sanctioned Chinese firm had illegally set up operations in Taiwan.
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has been stepping up efforts to stop what it views as underhanded and illegal activities by Chinese firms that are trying to steal know-how and poach talent.
The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau late on Thursday named Luxshare Precision Industry (立訊精密) as one of eight Chinese companies “that came to Taiwan to illegally engage in the poaching our high-tech talents.”
Photo: Bloomberg
The ministry did not give more details and Luxshare did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Video surveillance equipment maker Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co (浙江大華技術股份有限公司), which the US added to a blacklist in 2019 over Beijing’s treatment of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, was also on the list.
Zhejiang Dahua had set up “two private locations” in Taiwan and tried to circumvent the investigation by listing its employees under another company, the bureau said.
Zhejiang Dahua did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Taiwan, home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) and accounting for the majority of the world’s most advanced semiconductor manufacturing capacity, sees China’s efforts as a threat to its chip expertise.
“The facilitators of relevant mainland China companies in Taiwan should not be under any illusions and challenge the determination to enforce the law,” the bureau said, adding that it would “resolutely crack down on illegal business operations and the poaching of talent.”
The announcement on Thursday came after a sweep this month of Chinese tech companies that were suspected of conducting illegal operations.
Taiwanese prosecutors said that Luxshare allegedly stole commercial secrets from a Taiwanese competitor, Catcher Technology Co (可成科技), and poached its workforce to win orders from Apple.
Fourteen people have been charged, the prosecutors said.
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