A leading U.S. business lobbying group said Wednesday that Beijing’s examination of U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology Inc (MU.O) was a “major concern” for other firms in China.
In the absence of data or “real evidence showing that Micron’s products provided or stood as an example of a particular vulnerability to China,” the probe suggests that Beijing may target other companies or industries based on dark suspicions, according to AmCham China policy committee chair Lester Ross.
“It is a major concern because China lacks transparency in many conventions of law and policy, and this is one,” Ross said.
China’s cyberspace authority announced a cybersecurity examination of Micron Technology devices in late March to “prevent hidden risks and safeguard national security.”
Ross made his remarks during a media roundtable following the Beijing-based chamber’s business sentiment study, which polled 109 American firms in China from April 18-20.
After the government eliminated COVID-19 limitations in late 2022, respondents were more positive about China’s commercial future.
More corporations worry that worsening U.S.-China ties could hurt operations. 87% of respondents were gloomy about the two nations’ relationship, up 14 percentage points from the previous survey.
AmCham China president Michael Hart said the study revealed that American firms felt the investment environment in China is becoming less predictable.
Micron said it would assist with the inquiry and that its China shipments and operations were unaffected. However, the study prompted Washington’s 2022 export curbs on China’s semiconductor industry.
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