Wi-Fi Giant’s Vietnam Factory Raises Questions Over China Split

China-founded Wi-Fi behemoth TP-Link Systems Inc. is trying to convince US national security officials it’s independent from Beijing. The circumstances surrounding its Vietnam factory, where the company makes products to ship to the US, show how hard that may be.

The Vietnam factory is central to TP-Link’s assertions that it doesn’t present any unique China-related risks to American consumers following a restructuring that split its US and China businesses. The company has repeatedly identified that facility — as opposed to any in China — as the one that’s been making its products for the US market since 2018.