Taiwan Investigates 11 Mainland Chinese Firms for Semiconductor Talent Poaching

Taiwan's Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) announced last Monday that 11 mainland Chinese companies are under investigation for allegedly poaching semiconductor and high-tech talent. These firms are accused of illegally recruiting Taiwanese professionals by concealing their mainland origins, establishing shell companies, and operating in Taiwan without government approval. Since 2020, Taiwan has handled 100 cases related to mainland Chinese talent poaching, including a probe last year into Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), China's leading foundry, for allegedly recruiting staff from Taiwan. Geopolitical strategist Abishur Prakash of Canadian advisory firm The Geopolitical Business described the situation as a 'quiet tech war' over human capital, contrasting it with the more visible US-China tech rivalry. Taiwan's actions highlight the intense demand from mainland Chinese firms for experienced professionals in semiconductor and artificial intelligence sectors, despite US restrictions on China's access to high-end technology. Beijing's push for AI breakthroughs amid the tech competition with the US has intensified China's hunt for semiconductor talent, triggering these investigations by Taiwanese authorities.