China Rejects US Accusations of AI Theft as 'Groundless' Ahead of Xi-Trump Talks
Crhk · 12 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
China has firmly rejected the US accusations that six Chinese AI companies engaged in systematic theft of American AI technology through large-scale "distillation" campaigns. In statements on September 9, both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce pushed back against the joint advisory issued by the NSA, CISA and FBI, calling the allegations "groundless" and a manifestation of US "tech hegemony". The Chinese government warned it would take resolute countermeasures if Washington exploits the distillation issue to suppress Chinese AI companies. The timing of the accusations coincides with preparations for President Xi Jinping's planned visit to the United States at the end of September, when AI governance is expected to feature prominently in bilateral discussions.
Key Points
- Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that China's AI development represents high-level technological self-reliance, achieved through principles of consultation, collaboration and shared benefits .
- The Ministry of Commerce described the US accusations as "groundless" and a "case of double standards", noting that distillation is a common practice used by AI companies globally, including American firms .
- Commerce officials pointed out that even the US advisory acknowledged significant distillation of Chinese models by US companies, arguing this reveals Washington's true motive of industrial monopoly .
- China proposed bilateral dialogue under principles of equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation to address AI challenges, urging the US to work constructively rather than suppress competition .
- The six companies accused are DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, Alibaba, MiniMax, StepFun and Z.AI, with the targeted US models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and xAI .
Why It Matters
The escalating tech rivalry between Washington and Beijing carries direct implications for Hong Kong businesses and professionals engaged in AI development, cross-border technology partnerships and tech sector investment. As both superpowers prepare for high-level AI governance discussions, any hardening of US export controls or retaliatory Chinese measures could reshape the landscape for AI procurement, research collaboration and talent mobility in the Greater Bay Area and beyond .
The escalating tech rivalry between Washington and Beijing carries direct implications for Hong Kong businesses and professionals engaged in AI development, cross-border technology partnerships and tech sector investment. As both superpowers prepare for high-level AI governance discussions, any hardening of US export controls or retaliatory Chinese measures could reshape the landscape for AI procurement, research collaboration and talent mobility in the Greater Bay Area and beyond .