Taiwan accuses OnePlus CEO Pete Lau of illegal hiring, issues arrest warrant

Taiwanese authorities have reportedly issued an arrest warrant for OnePlus co-founder and chief executive Pete Lau, intensifying their campaign against what they describe as the unlawful recruitment of Taiwanese engineers by Chinese tech companies.

Decade-long recruitment drive

According to Bloomberg, Taiwan’s Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office has accused Lau of orchestrating an illegal hiring network that recruited more than 70 Taiwanese engineers since 2014. Investigators claim that OnePlus violated local regulations restricting Taiwanese citizens from working with Chinese companies without prior government approval.

Two Taiwanese nationals who allegedly assisted Lau in the recruitment process have also been indicted. The prosecutors argue that these operations breached laws designed to curb the outflow of technical know-how, particularly in the semiconductor and electronics sectors, areas that form the backbone of Taiwan’s economy.

Authorities say the recruitment efforts took place over several years, targeting talent from some of Taiwan’s most valuable industries. Officials are framing the case as part of a broader struggle to protect national security and safeguard intellectual property, especially as tensions between Taipei and Beijing continue to simmer.

Taiwan’s prosecutors have pursued similar cases in the past. Last year, they issued an arrest warrant for Grace Wang, chairwoman of Luxshare Precision Industry, a major Apple supplier, over comparable allegations of illegal hiring.

The government has also taken legal action against foreign firms accused of intellectual property violations, including Japan’s Tokyo Electron, and has considered restrictions on chip exports to certain countries.

OnePlus responds, Lau stays silent

Pete Lau has yet to comment publicly on the allegations. Bloomberg reports that requests for a response from Lau went unanswered. OnePlus, however, issued a statement assuring that its business operations remain “normal and unaffected” by the investigation.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice has so far declined to comment, and it remains unclear whether Lau, who is believed to reside primarily in mainland China, will face extradition proceedings.

While the case is still unfolding, it underscores how national boundaries and corporate ambitions are increasingly colliding in the global tech race. As Taiwan moves to tighten its defences, executives like Pete Lau may find themselves caught between expanding their companies and navigating the growing scrutiny of governments determined to keep their talent and technology at home.