TAIPEI (March 31): Taiwan said on Monday 11 Chinese firms are being investigated for alleged illegal poaching of semiconductor and other high-tech talent, stepping up efforts to curb technology outflows amid rising geopolitical tensions with Beijing. More than 185 agents searched 49 locations and questioned 90 people this month in a coordinated investigation targeting Chinese firms suspected of recruiting Taiwanese engineers in Taiwan without approval, Taiwan's Investigation Bureau said. It said Chinese companies under investigation disguised their ownership by setting up operations in Taiwan under the names of foreign-funded shell firms, or by establishing offices without authorisation, to recruit talent and conduct business illegally in Taiwan. China's scramble for chip talent and expertise has intensified as Beijing pushes for self-reliance in advanced semiconductors, amid a deepening tech rivalry with the US. A special task force set up in late 2020 has handled more than 100 similar cases involving suspected illegal recruitment and business activities by Chinese companies, the bureau said.

Source: The Edge Markets March 31, 2026 09:22 UTC