Taiwan probes 17 China-funded firms over tech poaching

Taiwanese investigators said Wednesday they had raided dozens of locations in a probe into 17 Chinese-funded companies suspected of illegally poaching high-tech workers from Taiwan.

The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau said more than 300 investigators searched 64 locations and interviewed 114 people in recent weeks.

Investigators said the companies allegedly tried to hide the identity of their Chinese financial backers while setting up unauthorised operations or illegally recruiting talent.

The bureau said Taiwanese technology firms face the risk of losing core high-tech talent as competition over artificial intelligence intensifies.

Taiwan is a major producer of advanced semiconductors. China is trying to develop advanced chips used in artificial intelligence systems while facing United States export restrictions.

Taiwan has long accused China of espionage on the island, which Beijing claims as part of its territory. Last month, Taiwanese prosecutors charged a former TSMC employee with stealing the chipmaker's core technology and attempting to leak it to China. Prosecutors have also detained seven people, including an Nvidia worker, in a separate case involving the alleged smuggling of Nvidia AI chips to China.