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

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 August 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 AI 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.