When the U.S. Justice Department announced charges against two Chinese nationals for shipping advanced Nvidia AI chips in violation of U.S. export restrictions, it set off ripples across the global tech landscape. On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Gua Jiakun fired back, accusing the U.S. of politicizing and weaponizing technology and trade issues.
Gua highlighted that the two individuals allegedly violated rules by sending top-tier AI processors—crucial for machine learning research—to the Chinese mainland. But he argued that such moves threaten international cooperation and innovation, urging the U.S. to genuinely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals.
"China opposes the U.S. politicizing tech and trade issues and using them as weapons to maliciously blockade and go after China," Gua said, stressing that geopolitical gamesmanship could undermine global progress in AI, from smart cities to health diagnostics.
For startups in key innovation hubs across G20 nations, the dispute underscores how tech and trade frictions can disrupt supply chains, delay product launches, and chill cross-border partnerships. Analysts warn that if major powers continue to escalate restrictions, the next wave of AI breakthroughs could stall—impacting everything from sustainable travel planning apps to real-time language learning tools.
As China and the U.S. navigate this high-stakes tech tug-of-war, young entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and thought leaders worldwide will be watching closely. The outcome could reshape norms around export controls, data-sharing agreements, and the future of AI-driven solutions that increasingly touch daily life.
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China opposes U.S. politicizing, weaponizing of trade, tech issues
cgtn.com
