China Inbound Legal Guides · FDI & National Security

FDI & National Security

Negative-list access, antitrust and national-security review are different stacks. Run them together; do not treat closing as a commercial handshake.

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Which parallel gate — access, control, or security review? Open the matching topic route or counsel — this hub does not decide the legal outcome on your facts.

China FDI and national-security route covering access, control tests, NSR and parallel gates.

Closing cannot outrun uncleared gates

Use this route when a signing, long-stop or filing clock will change the next step. Confirm current rules on the national decision desk.

Open the national FDI decision desk

Signature · Parallel regulatory gate stack

Access, control and security review are different stacks — run them in parallel.

activity → classification → gate → route → evidence

ActivitySector and buyer identity
ClassifyNegative list vs NSR vs antitrust
GateNDRC/MOFCOM/SAMR/security
RouteFile, restructure, or walk
EvidenceControl chart and closing conditions

Closing gates

Gates that can hold signing or closing. Confirm current tests on the national desk.

This map does not decide whether a filing is required on your facts.

GateMarket access

Negative-list and sector-open questions.

GateSecurity review

Trigger, clock and conditionality.

GateParallel lanes

SAMR, data/cyber and trade-control overlays.

Start with the situation

Which parallel gate — access, control, or security review?

Each topic owns one bounded decision, then connects to deeper guides, local context or counsel. This hub does not duplicate long-form analysis.

Market access & negative list

Prohibited, restricted and FTZ access questions before vehicle choice.

First jobIdentify whether the activity is open, restricted or closed before structuring.

Open topic route

Control & material influence

Equity, veto, governance and technology/data access that can change screening.

First jobMap who can actually influence the target before assuming a minority stake is quiet.

Open topic route

03Priority screen

Sensitive sector screens

Infrastructure, key technology, data and resources overlays on the same deal.

First jobList sector overlays that can trigger extra review even when access looks open.

Open topic route

Security review process

When a filing may be in play and how process clocks sit next to closing.

First jobSeparate trigger analysis from timetable and conditionality.

Open topic route

Parallel regulatory gates

Competition, data/cyber and trade-control lanes that can run beside FDI review.

First jobBuild one closing board of every gate that can stop signing or closing.

Open topic route

Diligence & transaction protocol

Clean-room, site visit, SPA condition and evidence protocol around screening.

First jobAlign diligence access with the gates that still have to clear.

Open topic route

Common entry points

Already know what is happening?

01We need to know if the sector is openStart with negative-list and access.02National-security review may be in playStart with trigger, clock and conditionality.03We are heading to signing or closingStart with the parallel-gate board.

Quick answers

Narrow questions this practice actually gets.

Not a second copy of this hub. Each card is one Wiki explainer.

Quick AnswerChina FDI & NSR: Critical Infrastructure ScreenCritical infrastructure FDI screen for China: NSR control tests, access facts, parallel gates, document checklist and counsel handoff.Quick AnswerChina FDI & NSR: Data-Heavy Platforms ScreenData-heavy platform FDI screen for China: NSR control tests, PIPL/important data parallel gates, diligence safe-room checklist.Quick AnswerChina FDI & NSR: Energy, Resources & Agriculture ScreenEnergy, resources and agriculture FDI screen for China: negative list, NSR control tests, licences and deal checklist.Quick AnswerChina FDI & NSR: Finance, Cultural Services & Internet Products ScreenFinance, cultural services and internet products FDI screen for China: access, NSR, licences and parallel data gates.Quick AnswerChina FDI & NSR: Key Technology & Dual-Use ScreenKey technology FDI screen for China: control and access tests, dual-use adjacency, NSR vs export controls, checklist.Quick AnswerWhen can China’s foreign-investment national security review apply?A narrow orientation to sensitive sectors, control and the distinction between NSR and negative-list access.

Curated resources

Go deeper without losing the route.

Long-form analysis lives on canonical guides. This hub only points.

core guide

China FDI closing readiness

National decision desk for market access, NSR, merger control and diligence. This remains the long-form owner.

practice hub

Corporate & M&A practice hub

Deal structure, diligence, documents and closing sit beside FDI gates.

practice hub

Company formation hub

Vehicle and negative-list questions after access is framed.

practice hub

Antitrust & competition hub

SAMR filing and gun-jumping questions that often run in parallel with FDI review.

Local context

Add the city only when it changes implementation.

Local filing windows can matter after the national gate list is clear.

Open city and province guides

Counsel hand-off

Need FDI counsel?

This hub organises gates. It does not decide clearance on your facts.

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