Foreign Tech Access in China

Before Chinese President Xi Jinping made it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for his meeting with President Obama this fall, his Boeing 747-400 had a layover in Redmond, Washington, where he met with chief executives from the top American technology companies. Western tech firms have come into conflict with the Chinese leadership lately, particularly over issues of encryption key demands by the Chinese and theft of intellectual property. China is worth some risk for these companies, as the cheap labor and large market create a lucrative business venture.

With the passage of China’s National Security Law this summer, the Chinese government focused a strong emphasis on domestic threats to state security. These threats include any people or groups who threaten the stability of the Chinese state—the key to the continuation of the Chinese Communist Party. This is far from the first time China has cracked down on foreign influence

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