According to reports from Chinese state media, Microsoft has advised approximately 100 of its employees in China to contemplate relocating to other countries. This development coincides with escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington, particularly concerning technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and clean energy.

The employees primarily engaged in cloud computing were recently presented with the opportunity to transfer to countries such as the United States, Australia, or Ireland, as per a report by the state-run outlet The Paper on Wednesday, citing an undisclosed source.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Microsoft has approached up to 800 employees—predominantly Chinese nationals working on cloud computing and AI—to consider relocation. This move aligns with previous reports from last year suggesting that the Biden administration was preparing to impose restrictions on Chinese personnel.