Four employees of Taiwan’s Foxconn, the world’s largest iPhone assembler, have been detained in China under “quite strange” circumstances, as reported by Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council. The employees were detained in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, where a major Foxconn plant assembles Apple’s iPhones, on suspicion of breach of trust.
The council described the situation as unusual and suggested a possible connection to corruption and abuse of power by some Chinese security officials. Foxconn declined to provide any comments on the matter, while the council mentioned that the company claimed no losses had been incurred and that the detained employees had not acted against the company’s interests.
Expressing concern over the incident, the council emphasized the need for a prompt investigation and resolution to restore confidence in companies affected by such events. However, attempts to reach China’s Taiwan Affairs Office for comments were unsuccessful.
Earlier in June, Taiwan had issued a heightened travel warning for its citizens regarding China, advising against unnecessary travel due to threats from Beijing targeting individuals supporting Taiwan independence. The longstanding dispute over Taiwan’s sovereignty remains a contentious issue between the two governments.
Despite the political tensions, Taiwanese businesses have made substantial investments in China over the years, attracted by shared cultural and linguistic ties, as well as lower operating costs. The incident involving Foxconn employees underscores the complexities faced by companies operating in the region.
