Beijing then accused Washington of “long-arm jurisdiction” and “maliciously blockading and suppressing Chinese chip products and the AI industry without justification”. Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian urged the US to halt “protectionist and unilateral bullying practices” and “stop its baseless suppression of Chinese technology companies and the AI industry”.
But Beijing is not just playing defence. Analysts say China is now better prepared and actively countering US restrictions, including with its own export controls and self-reliance to ensure it is not at the mercy of another country.
Zhao Minghao, a professor at Fudan University’s Institute of International Studies in Shanghai, said the US crackdown on Huawei chips was “significant” as it reflected Washington’s growing concerns over the tech giant’s progress.