(Beijing) China said on Monday that its probe into US tech giant Micron was aimed at “safeguarding national security” as Washington ramps up strikes against Beijing to maintain its semiconductor dominance.

Amid tech rivalry, the United States has blacklisted some Chinese companies to cut them off from supply chains for American technologies, including the most advanced chips, and in recent weeks has tightened export restrictions.

China’s internet regulator said on Friday it was launching a lawsuit against Micron to “review” the electronics maker’s products and prevent possible “risks” to “national security.”

The decision raises fears of a retaliatory measure that could be extended to other American companies in the sector.

“This is an ordinary regulatory measure taken […] to protect national security,” said Chinese diplomatic spokeswoman Mao Ning on Monday, when asked during a press briefing to explain the authorities’ approach .

“The first thing a company operating in China should do is abide by local laws and regulations, regardless of whether it is Chinese, American or other country,” Mao said.

“If [this company] complies with the legal framework, there is no need to worry,” she added. “Both Chinese and foreign companies […] must not endanger national security,” she insisted, however.

Micron said it was “cooperating fully” with Chinese authorities, according to financial news agency Bloomberg.

In the name of “national security”, Washington announced in October 2022 new export controls to limit Beijing’s purchase and manufacture of high-end chips “used in military applications”.

For its part, Beijing has already spent billions of dollars on its own semiconductor industry over the past 10 years, in order to no longer depend on foreign imports for its electronic chips.