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Taiwan Issues Arrest Warrant for OnePlus CEO Pete Lau Over Alleged Illegal Hiring

The move underscores Taiwan’s use of the Cross-Strait Act to curb covert recruitment by mainland-linked firms.

Overview

  • The Shilin District Prosecutors Office issued a warrant for Pete Lau and indicted two Taiwanese nationals accused of helping him run an unapproved operation and recruit more than 70 employees in Taiwan.
  • Prosecutors say the Taiwan-based hires worked on smartphone software application research and development, verification, and testing for OnePlus.
  • Media reports describe the use of a Hong Kong-registered shell company and a covert Taiwan branch, with activities alleged to date back to around 2014–2015.
  • The case is brought under Taiwan’s Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, which restricts mainland Chinese companies from operating or hiring locally without approval.
  • Oppo and OnePlus did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment, with some outlets reporting business continues as usual, and questions over any extradition persist as Lau is believed to reside mainly in mainland China.