China says US AI curbs 'flagrant violation of trade rules'

China on Monday condemned the latest U.S. restrictions on exporting artificial intelligence chips, describing them as a "flagrant violation" of international trade rules.

The new measures, unveiled during President Joe Biden's final days in office, expand upon 2023 curbs targeting advanced semiconductors. These chips are critical to AI technologies, a sector in which the U.S. and China are strategic competitors.

In a statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce accused the U.S. of misusing national security as a justification for the restrictions.

"The announcement is another example of the generalization of the concept of national security and the abuse of export control," the ministry stated.

The statement also noted dissatisfaction among U.S. high-tech enterprises and industry groups, saying their concerns were ignored by the Biden administration.

"The administration turned a deaf ear to the reasonable voices of the industry and insisted on rushing the measures out," the ministry said.

Beijing vowed to take "necessary measures" to protect its rights and interests, signaling potential retaliatory actions.

The restrictions come amid heightened tensions between the two nations over advanced technologies, trade policies, and global economic influence.