China criticizes latest US attempt to block Beijing’s access to chip technology

() – The Chinese government criticized the introduction by the United States of a series of controls on exports of semiconductors manufactured in that country, which Washington fears Beijing could use to manufacture the next generation of weapons and artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

The new measures, unveiled by the outgoing Biden administration, raised the political temperature between the world’s two largest economies ahead of the imminent inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has made self-reliance an important pillar of his economic strategy to turn China into a technological superpower.

The United States Ministry of Commerce announced this Monday restrictions on the sale of two dozen types of equipment for the manufacture of semiconductors and restrictions on numerous Chinese companies to access American technology.

The goal of the new controls, U.S. Commerce Department officials said, was to slow the development of advanced artificial intelligence tools that could be used in war and undermine the country’s domestic semiconductor industry, which threatens U.S. national security. United and its allies.

China’s Ministry of Commerce condemned the move, accusing the United States of “abusing” export controls and posing “a significant threat” to the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

“The United States preaches one thing while practicing another, over-expanding the concept of national security, abusing export control measures, and engaging in unilateral intimidation. “China firmly opposes such actions,” he said. the ministry in a statement this Monday.

One day later, prohibited resoundingly the sale to the United States of a series of materials crucial for the production of semiconductors and electric vehicle batteries. The export of gallium, germanium, antimony and other “superhard” materials will not be allowed because they can be used for military purposes, according to the ministry.

China had restricted the sale of some of these materials last year, as the technological rivalry between the two sides intensified. However, there was previously an option for companies to apply for special permits to export to the United States, a loophole that now appears to be closed.

The race for the upper hand in military technology has marked US-China relations amid growing US concerns about a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan in the coming years. The Chinese Communist Party, which claims the autonomous democratic island as its own territory despite never having controlled it, has adopted an increasingly aggressive stance toward Taiwan in recent years.

Senior US officials also accused China of directly stealing US-made artificial intelligence software, something Beijing denies.

“These are the strongest controls ever enacted by the United States to degrade the People’s Republic of China’s ability to manufacture the most advanced chips they are using in their military modernization,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told reporters on Sunday, using the acronym of the country’s official name, the People’s Republic of China.

Monday’s announcement is the latest round of export restrictions imposed on Beijing by the Biden administration. Last October, the Department of Commerce reduced rates of semiconductors that American companies can sell to China, citing a desire to close loopholes in regulations announced in 2022.

In September, the US Commerce Department separately proposed banning the sale or import of smart vehicles that use specific Chinese or Russian technology, citing security concerns. The incoming Trump administration has also been tough on China, even threatening tariffs.

For its part, China is intensifying its goal of mastering the advanced technologies of the future. In May, Beijing announced plans to create its largest state investment fund in semiconductors, worth $47.5 billion.

With investments from six of the country’s largest state-owned banks, including ICBC and China Construction Bank, the fund underscores Xi’s drive to bolster China’s position as a tech giant.

–’s Hassan Tayir contributed to this report.