Four employees of the Taiwanese technology giant Foxconn – some of whose factories, which produce components used in the manufacturing of iPhones, are located in China for economic reasons – were arrested by Chinese police for “breach of trust”. The Taiwanese authorities, who looked into the case this Friday, October 10, described the circumstances of this arrest as “strange”.
These four employees were arrested in the Chinese commune of Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, located in the center of the country. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, responsible for examining cross-Strait cases, said in a statement that the workers had been questioned and then arrested for “breach of trust.”
“Strange circumstances”
“The circumstances surrounding this affair are quite strange,” said this body, which did not provide details on the identity of the employees or their position. The case could be linked to “corruption and abuse of power by a small number of public security officials, which has seriously damaged confidence in business,” he said. the Council. “We urge relevant authorities across the Strait to investigate this matter and promptly handle it,” he added.
Their employer, Foxconn, stressed that the four employees “had in no way harmed the interests of the company”, and that the company had “recorded no losses”. According to the Straits Exchange Foundation, a semi-official Taiwanese organization responsible for technical and trade relations with China, all four employees are Taiwanese. Contacted by AFP, a Foxconn spokesperson declined to comment. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said she was “not aware of this specific situation.”
Foxconn, also known by its official name “Hon Hai Precision Industry”, is one of the largest suppliers to major global tech companies, including Apple. It is also one of the largest employers in the world, with numerous factories and infrastructures located in China, and particularly in Zhengzhou, nicknamed “iPhone City” because it is home to the largest Foxconn factory producing the brand’s famous phones. .
Geopolitical issues?
While the issues surrounding this case remain unclear, Taiwanese authorities suggest that these detentions could be a case of “abuse of power” on the part of Chinese police officers, reports the BBC. The same declared that this affair undermined the confidence of companies operating in China.
The conflict could be linked to China’s highly flammable relationship with Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory. The country regularly states that it is ready to reconquer the island by force if necessary. However, many Taiwanese companies have moved to China over the past 40 years to set up factories and take advantage of lower operating costs.
In October 2023, Chinese tax authorities had already opened an investigation into the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer. At the time, company founder Terry Gou was running as an independent candidate in the island’s presidential election. At the same time, Taiwan urged its nationals to “avoid all non-essential travel” to China, Hong Kong and Macau, after Beijing unveiled an arsenal of criminal sanctions against separatists and “independence of China” activists. Taiwan.”