China has detained a South Korean chip engineer on espionage charges, Beijing confirmed on Tuesday, escalating a brewing tech war between the east Asian neighbours over the critical semiconductor industry.
The engineer, who is in his 50s and lives in Hefei in China’s Anhui province, was arrested in December, according to diplomats cited by South Korea’s state-owned news agency Yonhap.
China’s foreign ministry confirmed the detention of a South Korean citizen on espionage charges and said it had notified Korean officials. China “investigates illegal activities in accordance with the law and has also ensured that the individual’s lawful rights are fully protected”, said foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.
The South Korean foreign ministry said it was providing the engineer and his family with consular services. The Financial Times has confirmed that the individual remains in detention in China.