Chinese authorities have detained four employees of Foxconn, the prominent Taiwanese iPhone manufacturer, raising concerns from Taiwan regarding the unusual circumstances surrounding their arrests.
The detentions occurred in Zhengzhou, Henan province, with charges of “breach of trust” levied against the workers, according to Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council. This situation has elicited strong statements from Taiwanese officials, who suggest it may indicate a potential “abuse of power” by Chinese police, undermining the confidence of businesses operating within the country.
In a broader context, the incident adds to previous scrutiny faced by Foxconn, which has been under investigation by China’s tax and land authorities since October of the previous year. At that time, the company’s founder was actively campaigning as an independent candidate in Taiwan’s presidential election.
Amid heightened tensions, Taiwan has advised its citizens to “avoid non-essential travel” to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, following recent Chinese guidelines imposing severe criminal penalties for individuals identified as staunch “Taiwan independence” advocates.
Foxconn operates the world’s largest iPhone factory, known as “iPhone City,” in Zhengzhou. While a significant number of Taiwanese businesses, including Foxconn, have established manufacturing operations in China, the geopolitical divide between Beijing and Taipei remains stark. Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province, while many Taiwanese regard themselves as a distinct nation, favoring a status quo that avoids declaring independence or pursuing unification with China.
