China says it may respond to US espionage against companies
China’s Ministry of Commerce has called on the United States to immediately stop all espionage activities targeting Chinese companies and said that Beijing has the determination and means to take retaliatory measures. This was reported by the South China Morning Post.
The statement by the Chinese agency came in response to remarks by US Central Intelligence Agency Deputy Director Michael Ellis. He said that the CIA is expanding intelligence work related to China and described Chinese companies as legitimate targets for such activity in the fields of artificial intelligence, semiconductors and biotechnology.
Beijing’s position
China’s Ministry of Commerce said that the United States is demonstrating the gangster logic of hegemony, which China does not accept. The ministry stressed that economic competition is normal commercial activity, and advantages in it depend on technology, talent and innovation.
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A ministry representative also said that the United States is blurring the line between competition and security and portraying economic rivalry as a so-called threat. Beijing described this approach as an expression of zero-sum Cold War thinking.
Reference to a US directive
The Chinese ministry referred to a 2014 US directive under which intelligence activities should not be used to collect commercial information or trade secrets of foreign private companies in order to provide competitive advantages to US businesses. Beijing claims that Washington does not adhere to this principle and applies double standards.
The Chinese side said it would take all necessary measures to punish violations of the law and protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. The statement came about two weeks before the planned visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington, where artificial intelligence and advanced technologies are expected to be among the key topics.
