China says US 'weaponizing' trade and technology

China has strongly condemned the US for adding dozens of Chinese entities to a trade blacklist, accusing Washington of "weaponizing" trade and technology to serve its hegemonic interests. 

US Commerce Department announced Tuesday it has sanctioned dozens of Chinese entities, citing their "activities contrary to US national security and foreign policy.”

The entities targeted include 11 based in China and one in Taiwan, accused of engaging in the development of advanced AI, supercomputers and high-performance AI chips for China-based users "with close ties to the country's military-industrial complex,” the department said.

Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler said the sanctions aim to prevent US technologies and goods from being misused for activities like high-performance computing, hypersonic missiles and military aircraft training.

China's foreign ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, said Wednesday that the entity list and other export controls were an abuse meant to “unjustly suppress Chinese enterprises.”

“It seriously violates international law and basic norms of international relations, severely damages the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises, and undermines the security and stability of global supply chains."

Guo also accused President Donald Trump's administration of "weaponizing" trade and technology in a "typical act of hegemonism.”

He said Washington needs “to stop generalizing the concept of national security ... and stop abusing all kinds of sanctions lists to unreasonably suppress Chinese enterprises.”

Beijing, he said, would take "necessary measures" to defend its firms' rights.

China says it opposes force, sanctions against Iran, calls on US to show 'political sincerity'

China rejects the use of force and illegal sanctions against the Islamic Republic and urges the United States to adopt a “sincere” political attitude.

US intelligence agencies consider China as the top military and cyber threat, according to the Annual Threat Assessment.

The report that was released ahead of testimony before the Senate intelligence committee by  Trump’s intelligence chiefs says China can hit the United States with conventional weapons.

China, it said, can compromise US infrastructure through cyberattacks and target its assets in space, as well as seek to displace the US as the top AI power by 2030.

“China’s military is fielding advanced capabilities, including hypersonic weapons, stealth aircraft, advanced submarines, stronger space and cyberwarfare assets and a larger arsenal of nuclear weapons,” said the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.

She said Beijing is Washington’s “most capable strategic competitor.”

Liu Pengyu, the spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington, said the US has long “hyped up” the China threat as an excuse to maintain its military hegemony.

He reiterated that China “is determined to be a force for peace, stability and progress in the world, and also determined to defend our national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.”

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