Chinese authorities have detained four employees of Foxconn, the Taiwanese iPhone manufacturer, in what Taiwan has called a “strange” case. The arrests took place in Zhengzhou, Henan province, over “breach of trust” allegations, according to Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council.
Foxconn, the largest producer of iPhones for Apple and one of the world’s biggest employers, has yet to comment on the incident. Taiwanese officials suggested the arrests might involve “abuse of power” by Chinese authorities, casting doubt on the confidence of businesses operating in China.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said they were unaware of the situation. Last October, Chinese tax and land authorities began investigating Foxconn, coinciding with the company’s founder, Terry Gou, running for president in Taiwan.
In response, Taiwan has urged its citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, especially after Beijing introduced penalties in June for “Taiwan independence” advocates.
Foxconn’s Zhengzhou facility, known as “iPhone City,” is the world’s largest iPhone production site. Despite the tense geopolitical relationship between Beijing and Taipei, many Taiwanese companies, including Foxconn, have established factories in China. Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province, though many in Taiwan prefer the status quo, where Taiwan does not declare independence or reunite with China.
