The Chinese government is pushing domestic banks to remove high-end servers made by IBM and replace them with a local brand, in an escalation of the dispute with the U.S. over spying claims. Government agencies, including the People’s Bank of China and the ministry of finance, are reviewing whether Chinese commercial banks’ reliance on the IBM servers compromises the country’s financial security. The review fits a broader pattern of retaliation after American prosecutors indicted five Chinese military officers for allegedly hacking into the computers of U.S. companies and stealing secrets. China’s government said it will vet technology companies operating in the country and there are reports that China ordered state-owned companies to cut ties with U.S. consulting firms.
