Beijing on Saturday accused the United States of “intimidation” 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 deteriorated under his administration, which saw the United States launch a trade war with China and expand its list of sanctioned entities to a few hundred Chinese companies. and subsidiaries.
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China’s Commerce Ministry said on Saturday it “strongly opposes” the move, which will affect the country’s largest chipmaker, SMIC, and vowed to “take necessary measures” to safeguard the rights of Chinese companies.
The ministry accused the United States of “abusing export controls and other measures to continually repress” foreign entities, and urged Washington to “stop unilateralism and intimidation.”
US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Friday that the designations, which restrict the ability of US companies to do business with the firms, are based on a series of charges that include human rights abuses and military activities. Chinese, particularly in the South China Sea – as well as the theft of American technology.
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SMIC has received billions of dollars in support from Beijing and is at the center of its efforts to enhance the country’s technological self-sufficiency.
The designation means that US companies must apply for a license before exporting to SMIC, and specifically targets the Chinese company’s ability to procure materials to produce chips of 10 nanometers or less, the best class in the industry.
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