OnePlus CEO Pete Lau Faces Arrest Warrant in Taiwan Over Talent Poaching Probe
Taiwanese prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for OnePlus CEO and co-founder Pete Lau, escalating legal tensions in the cross-strait tech rivalry. The warrant targets Lau for allegedly violating Taiwanese law by illegally recruiting engineers from the island.
Key Details of the Case
- The Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office is investigating claims that OnePlus recruited Taiwanese engineers over several years without following local laws.
- Two Taiwanese nationals have also been indicted for allegedly helping the company hire more than 70 engineers since 2014.
- The case centers on violations of the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.
Broader Context: Protecting Taiwan’s Tech Ecosystem
This case is part of Taiwan’s broader effort to safeguard its advanced technology sector from talent and intellectual property outflow to China. The island, a global hub for semiconductors and electronics, views such protections as a national security imperative.
Who is Pete Lau?
Pete Lau is a prominent figure in Chinese tech, known for driving OnePlus from a niche brand to a global player. His high-profile role as chief product officer at Oppo makes the legal action against him particularly significant.
The Legal Framework
Chinese companies are prohibited from freely operating or recruiting in Taiwan without explicit government approval. Authorities assert these rules are critical for security in sensitive sectors like semiconductors.
Responses So Far
OnePlus has stated its business continues as normal, and the matter has not affected daily operations. Taiwan’s justice ministry has not yet commented publicly on the warrant.
