TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s law enforcement agencies have accused Apple Inc.’s Chinese suppliers of operating illegally in the island and trying to poach technology talent, and said Chinese companies targeted by U.S. sanctions were operating illegally in the island.
Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, is stepping up efforts to thwart unfair and illegal practices by Chinese companies that steal know-how and poach talent.
Taiwan’s Justice Ministry’s Investigation Bureau late Thursday named Luxshare Precision Industry Co. Ltd. as one of eight Chinese companies that “came to Taiwan to illegally poach high-tech talent,” without providing further details.
Luxshare did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The bureau named Zhejiang Dahua Technology, a video surveillance equipment maker that the United States blacklisted in 2019 over Beijing’s treatment of Muslim minorities in China’s western Xinjiang region.
Zhejiang Dahua tried to evade investigation by setting up “two private bases” in Taiwan and listing employees as working for different companies, authorities said, without providing further details.
Zhejiang Dahua did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Taiwan, home to chip giant TSMC and the majority of the world’s most advanced semiconductor manufacturing capacity, sees China’s efforts as a threat to its own semiconductor expertise.
“Intermediaries for mainland China-related companies in Taiwan should be under no illusions and challenge the determination of law enforcement,” the bureau said, adding that it would “resolutely crack down on illegal business activities and talent poaching.”
Thursday’s announcement was the result of a sweeping investigation this month into alleged misconduct by Chinese tech companies.
In 2022, Taiwanese prosecutors charged 14 people with Luxshare stealing trade secrets from Taiwanese competitor Catcher Technology and poaching its employees to win orders from Apple.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Casey Hall in Shanghai; Editing by William Mallard)
