BEIJING: Chinese authorities have begun an investigation into leading US memory chipmaker Micron Technology, a decision Beijing’s foreign ministry said Monday was intended to “safeguard national security”.

The probe escalates an already fierce battle between Beijing and Washington for supremacy in the field of semiconductors as broader bilateral relations continue to deteriorate.

The decision was announced late Friday by China’s top cybersecurity regulator, which said in an online notice it would review products sold by Micron over “national security concerns”.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular news briefing on Monday the investigation was a normal measure taken to “conduct network security reviews of internet products that affect or may affect national security”.

“Both Chinese companies and foreign companies operating in China must abide by Chinese laws and regulations and must not endanger China’s national security,” she said.

The Boise, Idaho-based Micron said in a statement it was “cooperating fully” with Chinese authorities, Bloomberg reported.