Four employees of Taiwan’s Foxconn, the world’s largest assembler of iPhones for Apple, have been detained in mainland China under what Taiwan’s government describes as “quite strange” circumstances. This incident has raised concerns about the safety and legal treatment of Taiwanese citizens in China.
According to the Taiwanese government as quoted by Reuters, the four Foxconn employees were detained in Zhengzhou, China, on suspicion of “breach of trust”. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) reportedly suggested that there may have been an abuse of power by Chinese officials in this case. The MAC stated, “The circumstances of this case are quite strange,” highlighting the unusual nature of the detentions. Foxconn has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.
The detentions have raised concerns of companies operating across the Taiwan Strait. The MAC has reportedly called on relevant Chinese departments to investigate and resolve the matter promptly.
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd., known internationally as Foxconn Technology Group, is a Taiwanese multinational electronics contract manufacturer established in 1974. Headquartered in Tucheng District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, Foxconn is the largest maker of iPhones for Apple and one of the world’s largest employers, with major manufacturing facilities in China.
Concerns over missing Taiwanese in China
Since January, there have been 77 incidents of Taiwanese individuals going missing in mainland China, often in cases involving fraud allegations. Luo Wen-jia, Secretary-General of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), has warned Taiwanese against being lured to the mainland for illegal schemes. Out of these 77 cases, more than 40 individuals remain unreachable, raising serious concerns about their safety and whereabouts, he said.
The SEF and MAC have issued warnings to Taiwanese citizens about the risks of traveling to China. They caution against accepting job offers that seem too good to be true, as these could lead to involvement in illegal activities. The MAC has also highlighted the risks posed by China’s legal system, which can include severe penalties and lack of fair trials for those accused of crimes.
MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng has advised Taiwanese to avoid traveling to China, Hong Kong, and Macau unless necessary. The travel alert for these regions was upgraded to “orange” following Beijing’s announcement of 22 guidelines to punish “Taiwanese independence separatists.” These guidelines pose significant risks to the personal freedom and safety of Taiwanese citizens.
Taiwan-China tensions
The island of Taiwan, located roughly 100 miles from the coast of southeast China, has a rich history. It has been home to various indigenous guilds for centuries. Chinese records first mention of Taiwan in AD 239. The island experienced periods of Dutch and Spanish colonial rule in the 17th century before coming under full Chinese control during the Qing Dynasty.
After the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), Taiwan was ceded to Japan and remained a Japanese colony until the end of World War Two in 1945. Following Japan’s defeat, Taiwan was returned to Chinese control, which coincided with the Chinese Civil War between the Nationalist Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China. In 1949, the Nationalist Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan, while the Communist Party of China established the People’s Republic of China on the mainland.
Today, Taiwan operates as a democracy with its own government, military, and constitution. Despite this, the mainland Chinese government continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory despite strong contention from Taiwan. It has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. Tensions periodically flare, especially as Taiwan seeks greater international recognition and China increases its political and military pressure.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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