U.S. Blacklists 50 Chinese Tech Firms Over Military Links/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The U.S. has added more than 50 Chinese tech companies to its export control list, citing concerns over military use of AI and advanced computing. Beijing condemned the move, calling it an unjust suppression of Chinese innovation. The action comes ahead of expected U.S. tariff hikes on Chinese goods.
U.S.-China Tech Clash: Quick Looks
- Entities Targeted: 80 global firms, including 52 in China
- Key Firms: Inspur subsidiaries, Beijing Academy of AI
- Reason: Alleged use of U.S. tech for military purposes
- China’s Reaction: Accuses U.S. of abusing export controls
- Policy Backdrop: Part of Trump’s escalating trade crackdown
U.S. Blacklists 50 Chinese Tech Firms Over Military Links
Deep Look:
BANGKOK (AP) — The United States has intensified its tech restrictions on China, placing more than 50 Chinese companies on its export control blacklist, accusing them of trying to acquire advanced U.S. technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and supercomputing for military use.
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced the addition of about 80 companies globally, including firms from Taiwan, Iran, Pakistan, South Africa, and the UAE, to its “entity list”, a key enforcement tool to limit access to sensitive U.S. technology.
Targeting AI, Supercomputing, and Hypersonic Tech
Among the most notable additions are six subsidiaries of Inspur Group, China’s leading cloud and big data services provider. Also included is the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence (BAAI), which issued a strongly worded statement protesting the decision.
“We are shocked that a private non-profit scientific research institution has been added… without any factual basis,” BAAI said, urging U.S. authorities to rescind the designation.
The BIS justified the listing, stating that BAAI and Beijing Innovation Wisdom Technology Co. had developed large AI models and cutting-edge chips for Chinese military use.
The U.S. move is intended to curb China’s ability to build exascale supercomputers, develop hypersonic weapons, and advance other defense-related technologies, according to the bureau.
China Slams the Move
Beijing fired back swiftly. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the blacklist as a violation of international trade norms and a direct threat to global supply chain stability.
“China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this. It’s an abuse of state power meant to unfairly suppress Chinese enterprises,” Guo said during a press briefing in Beijing.
The spokesperson added that the U.S. actions “seriously damage the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises.”
Broader Global Implications
The BIS said the new restrictions also target:
- South Africa’s Test Flying Academy, accused of using U.S. goods to train Chinese pilots
- Iran’s drone programs and access to U.S. technology
- Nuclear and missile-related developments in Pakistan and Iran
Firms on the list are now subject to the Foreign Direct Product Rule, which bars not just U.S. goods but also foreign-made items derived from U.S. technologies.
U.S. Trade Strategy Intensifies
This escalation comes as President Donald Trump prepares for another round of tariff hikes next week. Having already raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 20%, Trump announced Monday that imports from any country buying oil from Venezuela — a key supplier to China — would face a 25% tariff.
These moves follow a broader “America First” trade agenda that has reshaped U.S.-China relations since Trump’s first term.
China has retaliated in kind:
- Sweeping tariffs on U.S. goods
- A tech investigation into Google
- A new sanctions law allowing Beijing to freeze the assets of foreign companies under Chinese sanctions
You must Register or Login to post a comment.