Two Brothers Behind Hubei Dinglong Become Billionaires, While Workers Endure Hardcore Factory Conditions.
Two brothers, Liang Xiangyu and Liang Xiansheng, became billionaires by supplying the ultra-pure chemicals China desperately needs to manufacture semiconductors, turning a little-known corner of the chip supply chain into a massive fortune. As China poured billions into becoming self-sufficient in semiconductor production, the brothers’ company capitalized on soaring demand for specialized chemical materials used in chipmaking processes such as photolithography and etching. But critics say China’s industrial boom comes with a darker reality, as investigations tied to major Chinese printing and chemical manufacturers have documented allegations of abusive labor practices, including illegal underage labor, extreme overtime, unsafe working conditions, and discrimination against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities. A supply-chain investigation linked to Hubei Dinglong subsidiaries in Zhuhai described workers enduring excessive unpaid overtime, psychological abuse, and exploitative factory conditions, while recruitment agencies were accused of refusing Uyghur applicants altogether. The story highlights how enormous fortunes are being built not just from chips themselves, but from controlling the chemicals and labor-intensive supply chains powering China’s technology empire.
Click here to find out about factory conditions at Hubei Dinglong.
