Investigations Against Hon Hai Employees: Suspected Bribery in "iPhone City

Chinese authorities are investigating four Taiwanese employees of Hon Hai Precision Industry, the main assembly partner of Apple, on suspicion of criminal activities, including bribery. This was announced by the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing. The four employees were arrested in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou, as reported by the Mainland Affairs Council in Taiwan this week. Zhengzhou is home to the world's largest iPhone assembly plant, operated by Hon Hai, the primary company of the Foxconn Technology Group. Local media reported that the arrests took place earlier this year. According to Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office, the suspects are being investigated for possible offenses, including bribery and embezzlement of funds. The investigations are ongoing, and the legal rights of the affected parties would be upheld. A representative from Foxconn did not comment on the authority's statements for the time being, as no statement was provided outside regular office hours. The Foxconn plant in Zhengzhou, also known as "iPhone City," is one of China's most important production projects and employs hundreds of thousands of workers. It contributes significantly to the economy of Henan Province. These recent arrests follow tax audits and land use reviews by Chinese regulatory authorities last year. These occurred during the candidacy of Terry Gou, the founder of Foxconn, for the leadership position of Taiwan. The Chinese tax authorities imposed a fine of 20,000 yuan on a Foxconn subsidiary for overstating expenses. Whether these investigations have been concluded is currently unclear.