Taiwanese prosecutors have filed charges over a Chinese chip equipment maker's illegal base of operations in Taiwan, a warning signal on cross-strait poaching of technology talent.

• The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office indicted two men, accusing them of renting a property in Taoyuan's Luzhu District to set up an office for China's Hefei Xinqi Microelectronics Equipment Co.
• One of the two handled engineering and technical operations in Taiwan while the other managed international business sales, and they also recruited a number of Taiwanese engineers to work there.
• Under the regulations, Chinese companies may not set up branches or offices in Taiwan, or conduct business activities there, without approval from the competent authorities.
• The company focuses on equipment such as wafer-level printed circuit board exposure machines and IC substrates — the very heart of Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain.

Outlook: Cases of this kind are expected to keep increasing, and Taiwan's enforcement against Chinese companies poaching high-tech talent will only tighten.