New Delhi

A Chinese agency backed by the nation's internet regulator is calling for a probe of Intel Corp.'s domestic sales, citing security flaws and a high failure rate.

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The Cyber Security Association of China, a relative unknown backed by the powerful Cyberspace Administration of China, made a public call on the messaging app WeChat for an investigation to protect consumers. It charged Intel with having allowed built-in backdoors in chips for years, putting user security at risk.

CAC's view on the association's stance is unknown, which oversees the country's internet sector and data governance regimes. The low-profile coalition of internet firms and researchers was established in 2016 as a training and relationship-building vehicle within the industry. “Intel products pose serious risks to national security,” the association said in its social media post.

Beijing has long campaigned to wean its companies from foreign technology, as tensions with the US have mounted, pushing businesses to turn to homegrown alternatives. That drive has gained momentum as Washington ramps up efforts to cut off the flow of valuable Western technology and components to the country and its top tech companies, including Huawei Technologies Co.

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Just this week, leading US lawmakers urged the Biden administration to block Huawei suppliers from buying American chipmaking equipment, accelerating efforts to halt the sanctioned Chinese telecom giant advance in the development of semiconductors.

In retaliation, Beijing has targeted some American companies, including Micron Technology Inc. The Chinese government in 2023 banned Micron's chips from critical infrastructure due to security concerns, although the US company has since striven to repair relations.

Still, calls targeting Intel have been rare, given its dominance of the PC processor market and longstanding presence in China.

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This article includes reporting from Bloomberg.