Taiwan Prosecutors Target OnePlus CEO Pete Lau in Illegal Hiring Case
Taiwanese prosecutors have taken a bold step. They want to arrest Pete Lau, the CEO of smartphone maker OnePlus. The Shilin District Prosecutors Office issued a warrant for his arrest. They charged Lau under Taiwan's Cross-Strait Act. This law strictly controls how mainland Chinese businesses can operate in Taiwan.
The Allegations Against OnePlus
Prosecutors laid out a detailed case. They claim OnePlus ran an illegal hiring operation. The company quietly scooped up more than 70 engineers from Taiwan over the past decade. This happened without the required government approval.
Here is how prosecutors say the scheme worked. OnePlus allegedly created a shell company in Hong Kong. This company had a completely different name. Then in 2015, it opened a branch in Taiwan. The branch operated without bothering to get official permission from Taiwanese authorities.
The team in Taiwan worked on smartphone software. They ran tests and verification for OnePlus devices. This technical work required skilled local engineers. OnePlus hired these workers directly. The company needed Taiwan's explicit approval to recruit local talent under the Cross-Strait Act. Prosecutors claim OnePlus skipped this crucial step entirely.
Two Taiwanese Nationals Also Indicted
The case involves more than just Pete Lau. Two Taiwanese nationals reportedly helped Lau in this operation. Prosecutors have also indicted these individuals. Bloomberg reported this development, highlighting the broader scope of the investigation.
Who is Pete Lau?
Pete Lau is not some obscure executive. He co-founded OnePlus and built it into a respected smartphone brand. Enthusiasts around the world know and care about OnePlus devices. These days, Lau also runs the product division at Oppo. Oppo made OnePlus an independent sub-brand back in 2021. This gives Lau significant influence in the competitive smartphone market.
Taiwan's Crackdown on Talent Poaching
This arrest warrant fits into a much bigger pattern. Taiwan has been aggressively going after Chinese tech companies. The island sees these firms as poaching its valuable high-tech talent. Taiwan's semiconductor engineers are considered a national treasure at this point.
The government has taken several actions recently. Last August, authorities opened investigations into 16 Chinese companies. These firms allegedly targeted high-tech workers in Taiwan. In 2025, prosecutors issued a similar warrant for Grace Wang. She is the chair of Apple supplier Luxshare Precision Industry. These cases show Taiwan's determination to protect its skilled workforce.
OnePlus Responds to the Probe
OnePlus has issued a statement about the investigation. The company says business continues as usual despite the probe. Pete Lau himself has not made any public comments on the matter. The situation remains developing as legal proceedings move forward.
Taiwan's actions highlight growing tensions in the tech industry. Companies face strict regulations when operating across the Taiwan Strait. The case against OnePlus and Pete Lau will test how these rules are enforced in practice.
