WASHINGTON: Nicholas Burns, the US ambassador to China, stated on Tuesday, May 2, that China’s recent” punitive” actions against some US companies have caused Washington great concern, as well as the fact that international agencies are delaying projects in the nation because of concerns about its economic openness.
Businesses have expressed concern over China’s increased use of exit bans, increased scrutiny of due diligence companies, and the ambiguous language of its original counterespionage constitution, which forbids the transfer of any information pertaining to national security and broadens its concept of spying.
Burns claimed that the policy was” imperil” scientific researchers, professors, and journalists and require illegal mundane activities and due diligence before businesses can get sane business decisions. He did this while speaking via video link with the Stimson Center think tank in Washington.
We’re really concerned about this, Burns said, adding,” We intend to have a comprehensive conversation with the government here about it.” If you combine that with some of the recent disciplinary actions the Beijing government has taken against five American businesses.
According to Burns,” We believe American businesses in this country should be free from harassment from the government, and … they shouldn’t be targeted primarily because there are political differences and competitive differences in the US-China relationship.”
According to US corporate due diligence company Mintz Group, authorities raided its Beijing office in late March and detained five national employees. At the time, according to China’s international government, Mintz was thought to be involved in illegal business operations. According to the US management consultancy, police visited Bain & amp, Co. ‘ s office in Shanghai and interrogated employees.
In light of US efforts to prevent Chinese access to cutting-edge chip technology, China has also stated that it will perform a security evaluation of products sold in the nation by US memory chip manufacturer Micron Technology Inc.
Since taking office in 2012, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has emphasized national security as skepticism toward the US and its allies grows. However, this emphasis contrasts with Beijing’s meaning that it is opening up to foreign investment and come after emerging from the confinement of some of the tightest COVID – 19 restrictions in the world.
According to Burns, many foreign companies were delaying making significant investments until they could observe some regularity in Chinese communication.
He claimed that due to worries about forced workers by Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minority, he had cautioned British businesses to strictly stay by a US law that forbids the importation of goods from China’s Xinjiang region.
” Don’t stray too far from the boundary of that specific regulations. Keep it in mind at all times, Burns advised.
However, according to Burns, relations between China and the US needed to be more stable, and only about 350 American students were enrolled it as a result of COVID-19 limitations and fewer visas being granted.
Over the past three decades, our cultures have been decoupled. It’s not good for you. Burns remarked,” It’s not smart.