China’s hunt for semiconductor talent has intensified as Beijing aims to achieve artificial intelligence breakthroughs amid deepening tech rivalry with the US, but the plans have triggered fresh probes by Taiwanese authorities into talent poaching by mainland Chinese firms in what analysts describe as a “quiet tech war” over the human capital.

A total of 11 new mainland Chinese firms were put under investigation for allegedly poaching semiconductor and other hi-tech talent, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) last Monday. The firms were accused of illegally recruiting Taiwanese by hiding their mainland background, setting up shell companies and establishing business operations in Taiwan without government approval, MJIB said in a statement.

The latest probes are part of Taiwan’s ongoing crackdown on mainland Chinese talent poaching, with 100 cases handled since 2020, according to the MJIB statement. Last year, the agency also investigated Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), China’s leading foundry, for allegedly poaching staff from Taiwan.

“This is a ‘quiet’ tech war compared to the ‘loud’ fight between the US and China,” said Abishur Prakash, a geopolitical strategist at Canadian advisory firm The Geopolitical Business.

“While the US spotlight is often on export controls or drawing in foreign capital, the Chinese spotlight is on those critical pieces, like talent, that will power the next AI innovations. Taiwan is acutely aware of this.”

Taiwan’s recent actions underscore the growing appetite of mainland Chinese firms for experienced human capital in the semiconductor and AI sectors, which have seen advancements despite being subject to US restrictions on China’s access to high-end technology.