Taiwan’s government claims China has stepped up its espionage efforts against the island and wants to tighten its laws to protect itself.
Taipei made the announcement on Wednesday alleging that Beijing has attempted to steal key technology through industrial espionage, talent poaching and other methods.
Taiwan is home to a thriving and world-leading semiconductor industry, used in everything from fighter jets to cars, and the government has long worried about Chinese efforts to copy that success.
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Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said it was proposing a revision to an existing law governing China relations that would require people getting government money for certain technology to seek permission before going to China.
There would be fines of up to T$10 million ($360,555) for those who breach the law.
The council did not specify what constitutes “national core technology” or how the government defines “certain subsidies” provided by them, saying it would seek help from the technology ministry and further amend the regulations.
A senior Taiwan government official said the revision was meant to protect the island’s manufacturing technology for advanced chips, which industry experts say is generations ahead of China’s.
Four lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party proposed in April amending the commercial secrets law to widen the scope of what is considered a secret and toughen penalties.
Taiwan blames China for most cases of industrial espionage by foreign forces discovered in recent years.
- Reuters with additional editing by Sean O’Meara
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