Taiwan investigates 17 Chinese firms for suspected poaching of high-tech talent

TAIPEI – Taiwan’s government said on Wednesday it had searched dozens of ⁠locations and interviewed more than 100 people in an investigation into 17 Chinese companies suspected of illegally trying to recruit chip and other high-tech talent.

Semiconductor powerhouse Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has stepped ​up a campaign against what it sees as underhand ‌methods being ‌used by Chinese companies to poach Taiwanese tech ​workers.

The Taiwan justice ministry’s investigation bureau said in a statement that between July 13 and Aug. 4, 330 agents searched 64 locations ⁠and questioned 114 people in coordinated raids on Chinese firms suspected of ⁠illegally recruiting tech workers and operating unlicensed offices in Taiwan.

Countries around the world are devoting resources to artificial intelligence research ​and development, and Taiwan ⁠has advantages “built on a deep foundation,” the bureau said.

“However, these industries have recently faced the ⁠problem of core high-tech ​talent being targeted and recruited away by Chinese ​companies, potentially eroding Taiwan’s key competitive advantages,” it added.

The companies ​named ‌included several publicly listed Chinese tech firms, including semiconductor-equipment maker ACM Research Shanghai, integrated circuit designer Goke Microelectronics, consumer-battery supplier Zhuhai CosMX Battery and chip designer Actions Technology.

None of the companies immediately ‌responded to requests for comment.

The bureau said Chinese companies commonly concealed their identities by pretending to be Taiwanese or foreign companies, set up offices without approval and sent over staff to try to illegally recruit ​Taiwanese ​talent.

Taiwan has announced similar raids before, including in March.

Beijing ​has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under ⁠its control. Taiwan strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future.

Taiwanese law prohibits Chinese investment in some parts of the semiconductor supply ​chain, including chip design, and requires reviews for other areas such as chip packaging, making it difficult for Chinese chip companies to operate on the island legally.