Taiwan Flags Security Risk as OnePlus Allegedly Recruited Engineers Illegally

An arrest warrant has been issued by the investigation agencies in Taiwan against Pete Lau, the smartphone brand OnePlus CEO. He is charged with the illegal hiring of Taiwanese engineers, which goes against the laws of the country. OnePlus is based in China, and this is connected to the special regulations between the two nations.

According to the Shilin District Prosecutors' Office, the investigation is related to allegations that OnePlus illegally hired more than 70 engineers from Taiwan. Investigative agencies stated that charges have already been filed against two Taiwanese citizens who assisted in this recruitment process.

At the center of this whole issue lies the Cross-Strait Act of Taiwan. This act governs the trade relationship between China and Taiwan. According to this act, every Chinese firm requires a special permit from the government in order to carry out any business in Taiwan or employ any personnel.

It is also alleged that OnePlus formed a fake company in Hong Kong. A branch was established in Taiwan using the fake company in 2015 without any approval. Authorities say this was done to conceal the company's Chinese ownership and avoid legal action.

The Taiwanese government alleges that the company used this tactic to secretly acquire their semiconductor and electronics engineering talent, which could threaten the country's technological security.

The issuance of an arrest warrant does not mean that Lau will be immediately sent to jail. Since there is no extradition treaty between Taiwan and China, his arrest is unlikely unless he crosses into the jurisdiction of Taiwan or its allies. However, this move could impact OnePlus' image and business deals internationally. There's currently no official statement from the company on this matter.