Taiwan Raids Chinese Firms Over Illegal Tech Talent Poaching

The justice ministry’s investigation bureau confirmed that these Chinese entities frequently masked their identities by posing as domestic or foreign businesses to bypass strict local regulations. By operating unlicensed offices, these companies allegedly sought to siphon off experts in artificial intelligence and chip design, threatening the competitive edge of Taiwan's foundational technology industries.

Among the firms targeted are publicly listed entities, including semiconductor-equipment maker ACM Research Shanghai, IC designer Goke Microelectronics, battery supplier Zhuhai CosMX Battery, and chip designer Actions Technology. While these organizations have yet to provide comment, the crackdown underscores Taipei’s hardening stance against Beijing’s industrial espionage. Taiwanese law strictly limits Chinese investment in sensitive areas like chip design and mandates rigorous reviews for packaging operations, creating a narrow legal pathway for mainland companies to establish a physical presence on the island.