US Chip Maker Micron Under China Probe as Tech Tensions Escalate
A cybersecurity probe has been launched in China against US-based chip maker Micron Technology, a move seen as retaliation by Beijing after its allies announced new restrictions on technology sales to the country.
The Cyberspace Administration of China said it would review products sold by Micron in the country, citing concerns over cybersecurity risks and the need to protect "key information infrastructure supply chains". The probe comes amid growing tensions between China and the US over trade and security issues.
The move follows similar actions taken by Japan, a key US ally, which has restricted the export of advanced chip manufacturing equipment to countries including China. The US has also announced curbs on China's semiconductor industry, a sector critical to Beijing's plans to become a tech superpower.
Shares in Micron fell 4.4% on Wall Street after the news, marking the biggest drop in more than three months. The company derives over 10% of its revenue from China, and had warned earlier this year about potential risks related to the Chinese market.
China has strongly criticized restrictions on tech exports, saying it "firmly opposes" such measures. However, Beijing has been exerting pressure on foreign companies to bring them into line with its agenda, including detaining staff of US firms and suspending operations in key cities.
The probe is part of a broader effort by China to assert its influence over the global technology sector, as it seeks to boost growth and job creation. However, the move has raised concerns among investors and analysts about the risks facing foreign companies operating in the country.
Micron said it was aware of the review and would cooperate fully with Chinese authorities. The company stands by the security of its products and maintains that its operations are normal despite the probe.
A cybersecurity probe has been launched in China against US-based chip maker Micron Technology, a move seen as retaliation by Beijing after its allies announced new restrictions on technology sales to the country.
The Cyberspace Administration of China said it would review products sold by Micron in the country, citing concerns over cybersecurity risks and the need to protect "key information infrastructure supply chains". The probe comes amid growing tensions between China and the US over trade and security issues.
The move follows similar actions taken by Japan, a key US ally, which has restricted the export of advanced chip manufacturing equipment to countries including China. The US has also announced curbs on China's semiconductor industry, a sector critical to Beijing's plans to become a tech superpower.
Shares in Micron fell 4.4% on Wall Street after the news, marking the biggest drop in more than three months. The company derives over 10% of its revenue from China, and had warned earlier this year about potential risks related to the Chinese market.
China has strongly criticized restrictions on tech exports, saying it "firmly opposes" such measures. However, Beijing has been exerting pressure on foreign companies to bring them into line with its agenda, including detaining staff of US firms and suspending operations in key cities.
The probe is part of a broader effort by China to assert its influence over the global technology sector, as it seeks to boost growth and job creation. However, the move has raised concerns among investors and analysts about the risks facing foreign companies operating in the country.
Micron said it was aware of the review and would cooperate fully with Chinese authorities. The company stands by the security of its products and maintains that its operations are normal despite the probe.
. don't wanna get caught in the middle, but at the same time, can't just ignore the warning signs either...the whole thing feels a bit too calculated for comfort 
! china's been trying to assert its dominance in the tech world for ages, but now micron's getting hit where it hurts 
- their revenue from china. i mean, we all know how trade wars and tech rivalries can get messy, but come on, micron's just a small fish in an already shark-infested pond 
. hope they can weather this storm without losing too much ground 
. anyone else think the us and china need to chill out and find some common ground? 
like, micron is saying their stuff is fine but china isnt buying it lol. anyway, did you know that my friend's brother got a job at a tech company in india and he loves it? 
they have better salaries and more holidays than us... 
with all these restrictions and protests, i wonder what's gonna happen next 
or is this just china playing hardball to boost its own tech sector? 
. Both sides are trying to outmaneuver each other, but in reality, they're both just juggling their own egos and desires. It's all about control and dominance, right? The US wants to limit China's tech growth so it doesn't become too powerful, while China is pushing back hard because it feels threatened.
I mean, Micron's stocks might be taking a hit, but at least they're standing up for themselves. That takes courage, you know? 
It's not just Micron that's affected - all those foreign companies are going to be watching their backs now. 
I'm not sure what China is trying to achieve here, but it's definitely making the global tech scene a lot more uncertain. 
I'm no expert, but it feels like we're living in some kind of high-stakes drama, and I just want to grab a popcorn and sit back, relax... not! 
. I mean, what even is the logic behind this? They're already exerting so much pressure on these companies to conform to their agenda... and now they're throwing a cybersecurity probe at Micron just because?! It's like, come on! 
.
These restrictions on tech exports are a total joke, just gonna lead to more problems down the line. And Micron's already got 10% of its revenue from China, so now they're gonna lose even more business? 
I mean, what's the point of being part of this "global technology sector" if you can't even get your products through a few Chinese regulatory hoops? 
about the impact on global chip supply chains. like, we're talking about a whole industry here 
they're already struggling with china being 10% of their revenue and now this... cybersecurity probe? 
It's just another example of how China's trying to exert its influence over the world. They're basically saying "Hey, US companies need to play by our rules if you wanna do business in our country". And yeah, I get it, US-China tech tensions are no joke... but can't we all just have a chat about this instead of, like, launching probes and restricting exports? 
. They're retaliating against US restrictions on tech exports, but it's just going to make things worse for everyone involved 
. It's just another example of how uncertain things are when you're dealing with geopolitics and trade tensions 
.
I'm not saying Beijing's being unreasonable, but this probe is just another nail in the coffin of trust between US and Chinese tech companies.
.