OnePlus CEO Confronts Legal Crisis: Taiwan Issues Arrest Warrant
Taiwan has issued an arrest warrant for OnePlus CEO Pete Lau, marking a significant escalation in the island nation’s efforts to protect its advanced technology sector from unauthorized talent recruitment by Chinese companies. The Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office confirmed the warrant, alleging that Lau oversaw an illegal operation that recruited more than 70 Taiwanese engineers without government approval since 2014.
The Core Allegations
The Taiwanese prosecutors accuse Lau and OnePlus of violating the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area—commonly known as the Cross-Strait Act. This legislation requires Chinese companies to obtain explicit government permission before hiring workers on the island.
According to prosecutors, OnePlus allegedly established a shell company in Hong Kong with a distinct name, then launched an unauthorized branch in Taiwan in 2015 to conduct research and development for mobile phones. The company reportedly operated this branch without seeking the necessary authorization from Taiwanese authorities.
Two Taiwanese nationals who worked closely with Lau have also been indicted for allegedly assisting in establishing and operating the unauthorized operations.
Who Is Pete Lau?
Born in May 1975, Pete Lau is a prominent figure in the smartphone industry who co-founded OnePlus and currently serves as its CEO. He also holds the position of Chief Product Officer at OPPO, his former employer.
Lau’s career began at OPPO as a hardware engineer, where he gained recognition for his meticulous approach to product design. He eventually rose to Vice President before departing in November 2013. In December 2013, Lau partnered with Carl Pei to launch OnePlus, aiming to create high-quality smartphones at competitive prices. The company’s first device, the OnePlus One, launched in April 2014 and achieved significant commercial success, selling nearly one million units within its first year.
Taiwan’s Broader Tech Protection Strategy
This legal action reflects Taiwan’s heightened vigilance against what authorities view as “talent poaching” by mainland Chinese companies. The island’s government has become increasingly concerned about the outflow of intellectual property and skilled workers to China, particularly in sensitive sectors like semiconductors and advanced electronics.
In August 2025, Taiwanese authorities launched investigations into 16 different Chinese firms as part of this broader crackdown. Industry experts view the OnePlus case as a strategic effort by Taipei to protect its domestic technology ecosystem and curb Beijing’s technological influence.
OnePlus Response
OnePlus has maintained minimal public commentary on the matter. The company released a brief statement asserting that its business operations continue normally and that the warrant has not affected day-to-day functioning. Neither OnePlus nor OPPO has issued an official statement regarding the arrest warrant.
Geopolitical Context
The arrest warrant arrives amid significant escalating tensions between China and Taiwan, making this case part of a larger technology security dispute. Taiwan considers its technology ecosystem—particularly its semiconductor and electronics engineering capabilities—as among the world’s most advanced and economically vital, making talent retention a national priority.
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