The US government has banned civilian federal agencies from using products from DeepSeek, the Chinese AI lab. The ban, ordered by the Department of Homeland Security, requires agencies to remove DeepSeek products from their IT systems and prohibits future purchases. It also covers third-party services built on DeepSeek's open-source models. Washington says the concern is that sensitive data could reach Beijing.
Beijing has pushed back hard. The Foreign Ministry accuses the US of stretching the concept of national security too far, while the Commerce Ministry demands the ban be lifted and vows resolute countermeasures.
China's double standard
Beijing's position is hard to defend, since China walls off its own market far more strictly. ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are not approved there. Since 2023, the Cyberspace Administration has had to review AI services, which must comply with political guidelines. The rule applies to the whole market, not just government bodies. State agencies and state-owned companies are meant to gradually replace foreign hardware and software with domestic products. Reports also point to restrictions on iPhones for government officials.
The New York Times reports that Beijing last week proposed its own export and licensing controls for AI technologies, similar to the American approach.
A political signal more than a concrete response
The US concerns also have a concrete basis. China's 2017 National Intelligence Law requires companies and citizens to support the work of intelligence services. Chinese models also steer clear of certain sensitive topics. On the economic side, AI companies, the FBI and other US agencies have repeatedly accused Chinese firms of unfair practices, accusations Beijing rejects.
Still, the protest serves several purposes. It shows domestic companies that the state backs them and supports the claim, abroad, that Washington wants to dominate the AI industry. Above all, it lays the groundwork for future retaliation, which can later be presented as a mere response.
In short, both sides invoke national security to protect their markets and technologies. The US also links security and economic policy through its strict chip export controls. China's protest is not very credible, but the political signal it carries deserves to be taken seriously.
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