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News > Science and Tech

China Suffering 'Technological Oppression' by US Government

  • Scientific development in China contributed 57.5 percent of the world's economy, China's foreign minister said.

    Scientific development in China contributed 57.5 percent of the world's economy, China's foreign minister said. | Photo: Reuters

Published 21 April 2018
Opinion

"Is the United States really this fragile despite being the number one developed country and bellwether in scientific field?" asked China's foreign minister.

China is accusing the United States of "technological oppression" because of the numerous restrictions and guidelines imposed on technology firms and investments.

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Reports from the U.S. Treasury Department reached the desk of Foreign Minister Hua Chunying Friday morning, stating the Trump administration is debating employing an emergency law to control Chinese investments in sophisticated technology.

"The United States is thinking and acting like a bully – only it can have high tech and others cannot. With regard to the high-tech restrictions, they are citing the reason of national security, but their motivation is protectionism," the minister said.

The U.S. government is considering realizing 1977 legislation known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which would declare a national emergency in response to an 'unusual and extraordinary threat.'

If the legislation is enforced, transactions could be blocked and assets seized to annul the potential threat.

"In China, a lot of people have iPhones," Chunying said. "Do we think it poses a threat? But in the United States, if some American consumers buy a Huawei cellphone, it is regarded as a national security threat. Is the United States really this fragile despite being the number one developed country and bellwether in the scientific field?

"On the one hand the United States is demanding us to open our market, but on the other it is putting obstacles. This is inconsistent with the market principles. They are not living up to the principle of fairness, equality and reciprocity they have been calling for."

China's scientific development contributed 57.5 percent of the world's economy, the minister continued.

"Technology should serve the interests of humanity rather than being a tool for the advancement of one nation over the other," Chunying said. "Nothing can stop the technological advance of China."

Earlier this week, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) criticized the United States for retracting export privileges from Chinese telecom equipment producer ZTE, due to alleged violations of export laws.

The MOC warned it would be monitoring the U.S. behavior, reminding Washington that tens of thousands of jobs are reliant on the wellbeing of the trade and investment connected to ZTE.

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