Governments worldwide are banning the use of foreign hardware in critical infrastructure over national security fears. But experts in global cyber threats are questioning the effectiveness of a strategy that may only increase geopolitical tension — while leaving vulnerabilities elsewhere.In May, China announced that domestic infrastructure operators would no longer be allowed to acquire computer chips or components from American semiconductor company Micron Technology, due to “serious network security risks”.

This prompted the US commerce department to say China’s decision had “no basis in fact” and was “inconsistent with [its] assertions that it is opening its markets and is committed to a transparent regulatory framework”.

However, China is not alone in implementing component bans on the basis of security assessments. The US government, itself, has long taken a hard line on Chinese tech companies, such as Huawei and ZTE. Donald Trump banned the use of their products in federal departments during his presidency, and Joe Biden’s administration has since tightened these restrictions.