cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/57237922
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.
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“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.
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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.
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