Taiwanese prosecutors are seeking the arrest of Pete Lau, the chief executive officer of the Chinese smartphone brand OnePlus, for alleged illegal business operations and recruitment in Taiwan.
According to Taiwan’s Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office, Lau is accused of being involved in activities that violated Taiwan’s laws governing relations with China. Prosecutors have already charged two Taiwanese nationals who allegedly helped OnePlus secretly run business operations in Taiwan and recruit local employees without proper approval.
The official document related to the case was issued in November 2025 and later reported by Taiwanese media. Investigators claim that more than 70 employees were hired in Taiwan to work on software research and development, as well as smartphone testing and verification, for OnePlus.
OnePlus is based in Shenzhen, China, and has operated as an independent sub-brand under Oppo since 2021, according to the company’s website. Neither OnePlus nor Oppo responded immediately to media requests for comments. Reuters also reported that Pete Lau could not be reached for a response.
Taiwan has strict rules limiting business and recruitment activities by Chinese companies due to ongoing political tensions. China views Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has not ruled out the possibility of using military force to bring the island under its control.
Taiwan, however, rejects China’s claims and maintains that only its people have the right to decide the island’s future.
Because of Taiwan’s strong technology sector and skilled workforce, Chinese firms have increasingly tried to recruit Taiwanese talent. Taiwanese authorities say some companies attempt to bypass the law by using shell companies registered in Hong Kong or other countries, or by hiring through third-party agencies to hide their connections.
In August 2025, Taiwanese officials announced investigations into 16 Chinese companies suspected of illegally recruiting workers in sensitive industries, including semiconductors and advanced technology. The government says these actions are necessary to prevent the loss of critical technology and expertise.
Taiwan continues to closely monitor and restrict such activities amid growing concerns over national security and technology leaks.
