[Reuters: Microsoft Has Closed 15 Chinese Branches and Joint Ventures Over the Past Five Years] According to Reuters, Microsoft has closed 15 branches and joint ventures in China over the past five years and had considered exiting the Chinese market in 2023, though there are currently no plans to do so. Due to U.S.-China geopolitical tensions, the replacement of foreign software with domestic alternatives in China, and U.S. restrictions on technology exports, Microsoft's expansion in China's government, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence sectors has faced obstacles. Microsoft has developed new business by providing Azure cloud services and overseas AI model access to Chinese companies going global, such as ByteDance and SHEIN, while retaining Chinese engineering talent and expanding research operations in locations like Vancouver, Singapore, and Tokyo.