Four Taiwanese workers employed by Apple supplier Foxconn have been detained in China since January for what is being described as a breach of trust. The workers were arrested in Zhengzhou, where Foxconn’s largest iPhone factory is located. The Taiwanese government’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has expressed concern over the case, stating that the incident has damaged business confidence. Foxconn has defended its employees, claiming they have not harmed the company’s interests and suggesting the possibility of corruption and abuse of power by local police.
This incident is part of a broader trend of Taiwanese citizens facing risks while living and working in China. Last month, an independence activist was sentenced to nine years in prison for secession, and an executive from Formosa Plastics was detained as he tried to leave China. In response to these escalating risks, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau has raised the travel alert for China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
The tensions between Taiwan and China have been exacerbated in recent years, with Beijing viewing Taiwan as a province of China and not recognizing dual citizenship. The number of Taiwanese citizens living and working in China has decreased significantly since the Democratic Progressive Party took power in Taiwan in 2016. This latest incident involving Foxconn employees highlights the challenges faced by Taiwanese nationals in China and the complexities of cross-strait relations.
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