Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Apr 03, 2026

China bans chipmaker Micron from key infrastructure projects as tech row with US escalates

China bans chipmaker Micron from key infrastructure projects as tech row with US escalates

The announcement from China comes after the G7 summit in Japan over the weekend, where US President Joe Biden said the group's leaders had agreed to "de-risk and diversify our relationship with China".
Beijing has stepped up its feud with Washington after announcing products made by US memory chip giant Micron Technology pose a national security risk.

China's cyberspace regulator said on Sunday that following a review it found Micron products have unspecified "serious network security risks" that are a hazard to the country's information infrastructure.

It told users of computer equipment to stop buying products from the US company.

"The review found that Micron's products have serious network security risks, which pose significant security risks to China's critical information infrastructure supply chain, affecting China's national security," the Cyberspace Administration of China said on its website.

CAC's statement did not provide further details of the risk or which Micron products were deemed a threat.

Micron said it had received the CAC's notice of the conclusion of its review of the company's products sold in China, and looked "forward to continuing to engage in discussions with Chinese authorities".

The US, Europe and Japan are reducing China's access to advanced chipmaking and other technology they believe could be used in weapons.

While they have warned of unspecified consequences, Chinese officials appear to be struggling to find ways to retaliate without hurting the country's own smartphone producers and other industries.

Micron makes DRAM and NAND flash memory chips and competes with South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and SK Hynix Inc, as well as Japan's Kioxia, a unit of Toshiba Corp.

Impact on Micron will be 'limited'

The company would experience limited impact by the latest announcement, according to Jefferies analysts, as its major customers in China are consumer electronics firms such as smartphone and computer manufacturers, not infrastructure suppliers.

"Since Micron's DRAM and NAND products are much less in servers, we believe most of its revenue in China is not generated from telcos and the government. Therefore, the ultimate impact on Micron will be quite limited," they said.

However, the company generated $5.2bn (£4.1bn) of revenue from China and Hong Kong last year, around 16% of its total revenue.

An official review of Micron under China's increasingly stringent information security laws was announced last month, hours after Japan joined Washington in imposing restrictions on Chinese access to technology to make processor chips on security grounds.

Last week, Micron announced a plan to invest up to 500 billion yen (£2.9bn) in Japan in extreme ultraviolet technology, becoming the first chipmaker to bring advanced chip manufacturing technology to the country that is now seeking to reinvigorate its chip sector.

The timing of the CAC's announcement was significant, as US President Joe Biden said on Sunday that G7 nations had agreed to "de-risk and diversify our relationship with China". They also agreed to establish an initiative to counter economic "coercion" during the summit in Hiroshima, Japan, over the weekend.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in his address at the summit that China poses the biggest challenge in the world to global security.

He said China was the "only country with both the means and intent to reshape the world order".
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Saudi Film Festival Rescheduled to Summer as Regional Tensions Continue
Saudi Arabia Reports Forty Two Point Six Billion Dollars in Foreign Tourist Spending in 2025
Saudi Crown Prince and Russian President Hold Strategic Call on Escalating Regional Crisis
Saudi Arabia Advances Rail Network as Strategic Alternative to Strait of Hormuz Shipping Route
Ruanyun Edai Launches Saudi Arabia Hub With Forecast of Ten Percent Revenue Growth
Greek Defence Minister Visits Troops in Saudi Arabia Following Successful Missile Interception
Saudi Arabia Expands Global Strategy With Focus on African Critical Minerals
SpaceX Explores Potential Five Billion Dollar Investment From Saudi Fund Ahead of Possible IPO
US Central Command Dismisses Iranian Claim of Mass Casualties Among American Personnel in Saudi Arabia
Co-Diagnostics to Establish Molecular Diagnostics Facility in Saudi Arabia Through Joint Venture
Trump Engages Saudi Crown Prince in Talks on Potential Iran Ceasefire
Saudi Arabia’s Sadara Suspends Operations as Supply Chain Disruptions Intensify
Saudi Arabia Accelerates Energy Shift by Trading Oil Revenues for Battery Investments
Saudi Arabia Introduces Flexible Options for Expired Visas Amid Regional Disruptions
Online Narratives Surge as Iran–US Tensions Spill Into Digital Arena Following Trump Remarks
Saudi Arabia Urges Trump to Seize Strategic Moment as UAE Weighs Ground Deployment
Saudi Arabia Redirects Nearly One Million Barrels of Oil Daily Away from Strait of Hormuz
Saudi Arabia Carries Out Execution of Businessman Linked to 2011 Qatif Unrest
Ukraine–Saudi Defense Pact Signals Rising Demand for Battlefield Expertise
Saudi Arabia Balances Diplomacy and Defense Preparedness Amid Iran Conflict
Iran Conflict Reshapes Strategic Calculations in U.S.-Saudi Relations
Saudi Arabia Voices Caution as Trump’s Assertive War Strategy Reshapes Regional Dynamics
Saudi Arabia Updates Travel Advisory as Regional Conflict Intensifies
Saudi Arabia’s Sadara Suspends Petrochemical Production as Conflict Disrupts Operations
Iran Urges Saudi Arabia to Remove US Forces Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
Gulf Allies Urge Trump to Sustain Campaign Until Iran Is Fully Defeated
Saudi Arabia Unveils Strategic Rail Freight Corridors Connecting Gulf Ports to Jordan
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Drones and Ballistic Missiles in Major Defensive Operation
Houthi Escalation Opens New Front in Expanding Iran-Linked Conflict
Major Saudi Chemical Plant Halts Operations Amid Regional Conflict Disruptions
Strike on US Radar Aircraft in Saudi Arabia Signals Escalating Threat Capabilities
US Citizens in Saudi Arabia Advised to Shelter Indoors Amid Rising Regional Tensions
How Britain’s Prime Minister Controls U.S. Bomber Access in Escalating Iran Conflict
Saudi Arabia Urges Trump to Lead Strategic Reset in Middle East as UAE Weighs Ground Role
Reed Smith Expands Saudi Presence with Senior Corporate Appointments
Trump Announces Approval of F-35 Fighter Jet Sale to Saudi Arabia
BBC Faces Scrutiny Over Allegations of Paid Content Linked to Saudi Arabia
Ukraine Secures Defense Agreements with Qatar and Saudi Arabia as UAE Talks Advance
Oil Prices Surge as Saudi Arabia Adjusts Supply Amid Escalating Iran Tensions
Saudi Arabia Condemns Attacks on Kurdistan Leaders and Reaffirms Backing for Iraq’s Stability
Saudi Arabia Weighs Strategic Interests as Iran Conflict Raises Regional Stakes
Severe Thunderstorms Sweep Across UAE and Saudi Arabia Bringing Heavy Rainfall
Trump’s Strategic Alignment with Saudi Arabia Reflects Expanding Economic and Diplomatic Synergy
Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Attacks on Presidential Residences in Hawler
Saudi Stocks Edge Lower as Tadawul Index Closes Slightly Down
Houthis Enter Expanding Iran Conflict as US Deploys Additional Troops
Iran Seeks Assurances for Regional Allies as Saudi Arabia Presses for Firm Security Guarantees
Iranian Strike Reportedly Destroys $270 Million US E-3 Sentry Aircraft at Saudi Air Base
Iranian Strike on Saudi Base Leaves Ten American Personnel Injured
Ukraine Claims Russia Shared Satellite Intelligence with Iran Ahead of Saudi Base Strike
×