The Chinese government recently took a significant step against an American semiconductor company Micron Technology with corporate headquarters in Boise, ID. The Cyberspace Administration of China announced that Micron, one of the largest producer of memory chips in the world, posed significant security risks to China’s critical information infrastructure supply chain. As a result, it ordered operators of critical national infrastructure to refrain from purchasing Micron’s products.

Experts believe that Micron became an apparent target for China due to its technology, which could be more easily replaced with chips from South Korean competitors such as Samsung and SK Hynix. In fact, just last month, the White House requested that South Korea’s chipmakers refrain from filling any market gap in China if the sale of Micron’s products were to be restricted.

China conveyed its decision to Micron during a meeting held in Beijing on Sunday.

Could this be backlash for the United States restricting Huawei products within its borders due to concerns over security risks? If you remember, the ban was implemented to protect the country’s critical information infrastructure from potential threats posed by Huawei’s technology. Several factors contributed to this decision.

One of the primary concerns is the alleged close relationship between Huawei and the Chinese government. There have been suspicions that Huawei’s equipment could potentially be used for unauthorized surveillance or cyberattacks, posing a threat to national security. The fear is that the Chinese government could exploit vulnerabilities in Huawei’s technology to gain access to sensitive information or disrupt critical networks.

Furthermore, the ban on Huawei products is also driven by concerns about intellectual property theft. The United States has accused Huawei of stealing trade secrets and engaging in unfair business practices, leading to legal disputes and a deterioration of trust between the two nations.

The US government has taken measures to protect its communication networks by restricting the use of Huawei equipment. These actions have included banning federal agencies from purchasing Huawei products and urging allies to follow suit. The concern is that relying on Huawei’s infrastructure could compromise the integrity and security of the country’s telecommunications networks.