In a move that underscores the delicate balance between regulation and innovation, the Chinese mainland’s top market regulator has labeled its investigation into Qualcomm’s unapproved acquisition of Autotalks as a routine law enforcement action under the country’s anti-monopoly law.
The regulator, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), told Qualcomm in writing on March 12, 2024, to file the deal for review and refrain from proceeding until it was cleared. According to a SAMR official, the transaction fell below standard notification thresholds, but evidence of potential anti-competitive effects prompted the inquiry.
Officials say Qualcomm responded on March 14, 2024, promising to abandon the deal—but moved ahead in June 2025 without filing or communicating with SAMR. Only after fresh complaints did the regulator verify the facts and open a formal case for the illegal implementation of a concentration of undertakings.
This episode comes amid renewed focus on Chinese mainland–U.S. economic and trade relations. Despite rising tensions in semiconductors and other high-tech industries, both sides remain deeply interdependent in key sectors such as chip manufacturing, new energy and green supply chains.
While the Chinese mainland pushes for technological self-reliance and industrial upgrading, it also reaffirms openness to international cooperation that fuels global innovation and stable supply networks.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
