Taiwan Moves to Arrest OnePlus CEO for Alleged Illegal Recruitment, Escalates Pressure on China

OnePlus, Pete Lau,, hunted by the Taiwanese government (photo: x @swedroid)

JAKARTA - Taiwan authorities are moving to arrest the CEO of Chinese mobile phone manufacturer OnePlus, Pete Lau, for his alleged involvement in illegal business activities and labor recruitment in Taiwan. This step is part of a broader effort by Taipei to suppress the activities of Chinese technology companies in its territory.

The Shilin District Prosecutors Office in Taiwan said it had charged two Taiwanese citizens for helping Pete Lau run the business illegally and recruiting more than 70 employees in Taiwan. The information was quoted by VOI from Reuters.

According to prosecutors, the two Taiwanese citizens helped Lau operate the OnePlus business illegally and recruit dozens of employees for the Chinese company.

The charges against Pete Lau relate to violations of Taiwanese laws governing relations between Taiwan and mainland China.

Prosecutors said OnePlus recruited more than 70 employees in Taiwan to conduct research and development of smartphone software applications, including verification and testing processes, for the Chinese phone maker.

Pete Lau is accused of violating the Law Regulating the Relationship between the Taiwan Region and the Mainland Region.

OnePlus is headquartered in Shenzhen, southern China. According to its official website, the company has been an independent sub-brand under Oppo since 2021.

In addition to serving as CEO of OnePlus, Lau also holds an important role at Oppo as head of product and often appears at Oppo's mobile phone launches.

Until now, Oppo and OnePlus have not issued an official statement regarding the development of the case.

Geopolitical Meaning

This development is considered significant in the context of the geopolitical relations between China and Taiwan. Beijing claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to use force to take over the island. Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims and insists that only the people of Taiwan have the right to determine their own future.

Taiwan's technological superiority makes it a prime target for Chinese companies seeking talent. In response, Taiwanese authorities are trying to repel the practice, which they say is often done by setting up shell companies in Hong Kong or foreign entities, or by channeling recruitment through labor agencies to disguise identities.

In August 2025, Taiwanese authorities said they were investigating 16 Chinese companies for alleged theft of semiconductor talent and other high technology, amid growing concerns about technology leaks.

In 2025, Taiwanese investigators searched 34 locations in an investigation into the recruitment practices of 11 Chinese technology companies, including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC). The Taiwan Investigation Bureau at the time said SMIC had set up a branch in Taiwan disguised as a Samoa-based entity to recruit local labor.

The move on Tuesday is the latest example of a series of actions taken by Taipei to counter China's technology industry, amid Beijing's efforts to use its technological power to expand its influence.