中 "Foxconn Taiwanese Employees 4 Under Investigation for Bribery and Embezzlement Charges"

Four Employees at Zhengzhou Factory Detained on Charges of 'Violation of the Divine'

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Chinese authorities are investigating four Taiwanese employees of Foxconn, Apple's largest contract partner, on charges of bribery and embezzlement, Chinese state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on the 12th.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China, stated the previous day, "Relevant agencies are investigating the case according to the law and will thoroughly protect the legitimate rights and interests of the suspects."

Amid rising tensions between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait (China and Taiwan), the detention of Foxconn's Taiwanese employees by Chinese authorities was first reported by foreign media the day before.

The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's agency responsible for mainland China affairs, said in a statement sent to these foreign media that four employees at Foxconn's Zhengzhou plant are detained on charges of "breach of trust." The Mainland Affairs Council claimed, "The circumstances of this case are quite unusual," suggesting it may be related to corruption or abuse of power by some local police.

Foxconn stated, according to the Mainland Affairs Council, that the four employees did not engage in actions harmful to the company's interests.

Since Lai Ching-te, who has an independent stance, took office as Taiwan's president in May, China has increased pressure on Taiwan. In June, China announced criminal punishment guidelines allowing the death penalty for "stubborn Taiwan independence activists" who attempt or incite separatism.