China Detains iPhone Maker Workers in ‘Strange’ Case
Chinese authorities have detained four employees of Foxconn, the Taiwanese firm responsible for manufacturing iPhones, in a case that Taipei has labelled as “strange.” The arrests occurred in Zhengzhou, Henan province, with the workers facing “breach of trust” charges, according to Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).
The circumstances surrounding the detentions have sparked concerns in Taiwan, with officials suggesting the arrests may be an “abuse of power” by Chinese police, raising alarms for businesses operating on the mainland. “This case undermines the confidence of Taiwanese companies in China,” the MAC said in a statement.
Foxconn, one of the largest employers globally and the primary manufacturer of iPhones for Apple, has yet to issue a comment on the situation. The BBC reached out to the company for clarification.
Chinese authorities have not provided any further details, and a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry stated they were unaware of the case.
The detentions follow a broader investigation launched by Chinese tax and land authorities in October last year into Foxconn’s operations, coinciding with the company’s founder, Terry Gou, running as an independent candidate in Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election.
The situation adds to existing tensions between Taiwan and China, with Taipei recently advising its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. This follows new guidelines from Beijing in June outlining criminal penalties for Taiwanese individuals accused of promoting independence.
Foxconn’s Zhengzhou facility, often referred to as “iPhone City,” is the largest iPhone production site in the world. Despite the long-standing political divide between China and Taiwan, Foxconn is one of many Taiwanese firms that have established significant manufacturing operations in China. While Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province, many Taiwanese citizens favour maintaining the current status quo without declaring formal independence or unification with China.
