IBM to Shut Down China Research Centers, Laying Off Over 1,000 Workers

IBM is in the process of shutting down its research and development (R&D) departments in China, local media outlets say, becoming the latest American tech giant to scale back its presence in the increasingly restrictive China-based market.
An IBM spokesperson said in a media statement that the company adjusts its operations “based on needs.”
“These changes will not impact our ability to support customers in China,” the spokesperson said.
IBM was among the first significant Western companies to invest in the Chinese market in the 1980s, according to China’s state media.
Most recently, Microsoft asked its China-based employees to consider relocating to other countries.
U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns has warned that there is “no level playing field” for American companies in China.