Taiwan to slap 12-year jail terms on ‘economic spies’ leaking hi-tech know-how to mainland China
- Move from cabinet in Taipei comes amid active poaching of hi-tech talent by mainland firms
- Infiltration activities by the ‘red supply chain’ targeting Taiwanese industries has taken on serious proportions, spokesman says
This came as Taiwan authorities revised cross-strait regulations to counter active poaching of hi-tech talent by mainland firms in recent years, and toughen penalties for those leaking core technologies and classified business know-how of Taiwanese firms to mainland China and its two administrative regions.
The decision by the Taiwanese cabinet on Thursday also included a move to relax local employment rules, so that qualified foreign workers could apply for permanent residence on the self-ruled island.
The revisions to the national security law and regulations governing cross-strait people-to people-relations were approved by Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang at the cabinet meeting.
“The hi-technology industry is an important economic lifeline for Taiwan and, in recent years, infiltration activities targeting our industries by the ‘red supply chain’ have become more serious,” cabinet spokesman Lo Ping-cheng said, referring to a fast-growing cluster of mainland companies that had snatched market share in Taiwan.
