China accused US of “abusing export controls”
Beijing:
Beijing on Saturday accused the United States of “bullying” after Washington announced export controls on dozens of Chinese companies for alleged links to the Chinese military.
The announcement – in the final weeks of President Donald Trump’s term – comes after relations between Washington and Beijing intensified under his administration, which saw the United States start a trade war with China and expand its list of sanctioned entities to several hundred Chinese companies. and subsidiaries.
China’s trade ministry said on Saturday it “strongly opposes” the move, which will affect the country’s largest chip maker, SMIC, and vowed to “take the necessary steps” to safeguard companies’ rights. Chinese.
The ministry accused the United States of “abusing export controls and other measures to continually suppress” foreign entities and urged Washington to “stop unilateralism and harassment.”
In a statement, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the appointments, which restrict the ability of U.S. companies to do business with companies, are a number of charges, including human rights abuses, activities of the Chinese army, especially in the South China Sea, as well as the theft of American technology.
The new US restrictions are aimed at 77 companies and subsidiaries, including 59 in mainland China, including SMIC, as well as SMIC’s Hong Kong unit and entities in more than half a dozen countries, from Bulgaria to France and Pakistan.
“China’s corrupt and intimidating behavior, both inside and outside its borders, harms U.S. national security interests, undermines the sovereignty of our allies and partners, and violates the human rights and dignity of ethnic and religious minority groups. said Ross.
“Trade will act to ensure that American technology, developed and produced in accordance with open and free market principles, is not used for malicious or abusive purposes.”
SMIC has received billions of dollars in support from Beijing and is at the center of its efforts to improve the country’s technological self-sufficiency.
The designation means that U.S. companies must apply for a license before exporting to SMIC and specifically target the Chinese company’s ability to acquire materials to produce chips 10 nanometers or less, the best industry class.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)