US Chip Maker Micron Under Cybersecurity Probe from China in Retaliation Over Tech Restrictions
In a move that underscores growing tech tensions between Washington and Beijing, China's Cyberspace Administration has launched a cybersecurity probe into US chip maker Micron Technology, one of America's largest memory chip manufacturers.
The probe is seen as retaliation against the recent announcement by US allies Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States to restrict the sale of key technology to China. The move aims to ensure the security of critical information infrastructure supply chains and prevent potential cybersecurity risks.
Micron has warned in an earlier filing that such risks are possible due to its significant presence in the Chinese market, with over 10% of its revenue coming from the country. The company's shares plummeted 4.4% on Wall Street last Friday following the news, marking the biggest single-day drop in more than three months.
China has expressed strong criticism towards restrictions on tech exports, describing them as "firmly opposed" measures. However, Beijing is under pressure to boost growth and job creation, prompting it to woo foreign investments and offer attractive incentives to global CEOs.
The move highlights China's efforts to bring foreign companies into line with its agenda, following the detention of five local staff from a US corporate intelligence firm, Mintz Group, in December last year. Deloitte's operations in Beijing were also suspended for three months earlier this month after it was fined $31 million over alleged work auditing lapses.
The probe into Micron is just another example of how China is using its growing economic power to flex its muscles and push back against Western companies. The move could have significant implications for the global semiconductor industry, particularly if other US allies follow suit with similar restrictions.
As tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how Micron will navigate this challenging landscape and what impact the probe may have on its operations in China.
In a move that underscores growing tech tensions between Washington and Beijing, China's Cyberspace Administration has launched a cybersecurity probe into US chip maker Micron Technology, one of America's largest memory chip manufacturers.
The probe is seen as retaliation against the recent announcement by US allies Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States to restrict the sale of key technology to China. The move aims to ensure the security of critical information infrastructure supply chains and prevent potential cybersecurity risks.
Micron has warned in an earlier filing that such risks are possible due to its significant presence in the Chinese market, with over 10% of its revenue coming from the country. The company's shares plummeted 4.4% on Wall Street last Friday following the news, marking the biggest single-day drop in more than three months.
China has expressed strong criticism towards restrictions on tech exports, describing them as "firmly opposed" measures. However, Beijing is under pressure to boost growth and job creation, prompting it to woo foreign investments and offer attractive incentives to global CEOs.
The move highlights China's efforts to bring foreign companies into line with its agenda, following the detention of five local staff from a US corporate intelligence firm, Mintz Group, in December last year. Deloitte's operations in Beijing were also suspended for three months earlier this month after it was fined $31 million over alleged work auditing lapses.
The probe into Micron is just another example of how China is using its growing economic power to flex its muscles and push back against Western companies. The move could have significant implications for the global semiconductor industry, particularly if other US allies follow suit with similar restrictions.
As tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how Micron will navigate this challenging landscape and what impact the probe may have on its operations in China.