(Bloomberg) — Taiwanese prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for the CEO of Chinese smartphone company OnePlus, stepping up efforts to stem the potential loss of technology and talent to geopolitical adversaries.
The Shilin District Prosecutor’s Office announced that it has issued a warrant to CEO and co-founder Pete Lau, one of the biggest names in China’s mobile industry and a regular public salesman for industry leader Oppo. Prosecutors also indicted two Taiwanese nationals who worked for Mr. Lau, accusing OnePlus of illegally hiring more than 70 engineers across the island since 2014.
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The move was the latest in a series of actions underscoring Taipei’s growing determination to counter China’s high-tech industry while leveraging its own technological capabilities to expand its influence. Taiwan has threatened to ban chip shipments to South Africa in 2025, sued Tokyo Electron for intellectual property theft, and launched an investigation into whether new Intel employees stole trade secrets from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
Since President Lai Ching-de took office in 2024, efforts to poach Taiwanese talent and prevent the leakage of intellectual property appear to have been stepped up. In September, prosecutors issued a warrant on similar grounds to Grace Wang, chairman of LuckShare Precision Industries, targeting a prominent Chinese iPhone assembler.
Mr. Lau and two of his employees have been charged with violating laws governing relations between people in Taiwan and the mainland. He is one of the well-known founders of China’s technology industry and is respected for his commitment to quality, which helped make OnePlus a global company. He also plays a key role in Oppo’s mobile phone launch as Chief Product Officer.
The executive did not respond to Bloomberg’s request for comment. OnePlus issued a statement saying business operations continue as usual and are unaffected. Representatives from Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
Taiwan has become a favorite recruiting location for China. That’s because the two countries share a common language and are home to some of the world’s best technology talent. In response, Taipei city imposed restrictions and safety measures, especially for the world’s leading semiconductor industry, citing national security. For example, Chinese companies are not allowed to set up local operations or hire local workers without formal government approval.