The move appears part of the response to the U.S. Justice Department's recent decision to charge Chinese government officials with spying.
Beijing's response to the indictments was swift, with a propaganda campaign in Chinese state media describing the US as a "mincing rascal" and "high-level hooligan". The decision to ban state enterprises from working with western consulting companies marks a further escalation in Beijing's response.
Along with McKinsey and Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Co., and Strategy&, formerly Booz Co. (and no, that's not a typo), all have extensive operations in China, Anderlini notes.