Blocking of Qualcomm takeover could end the tech industry's cozy ties to Beijing

Thanks to its breathtaking market size and unparalleled manufacturing base, China has long held sway over U.S. technology companies.

But the Trump administration's unusual decision Monday to block a foreign hostile takeover of chipmaker Qualcomm could limit the companies' ability to continue accommodating Beijing.

In an executive order, the White House rejected the bid by Singapore's Broadcom because "it might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States."

The concern was that a sale of San Diego's Qualcomm would result in the U.S. ceding ground to China in semiconductors and burgeoning 5G mobile technology, two areas crucial to national security and business profits.

Taking a