Chinese Media Say Biden Sanctions Are "No More Than a Mosquito Bite"

Sanctions on Seven Chinese Computing Firms Will Only Motivate R&D
Claims of Crackdown on Chinese High-Tech Companies to Maintain US Science and Technology Supremacy

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese media unanimously reported that the US sanctions on seven Chinese supercomputing companies are no more than a mosquito bite. They emphasized that these sanctions will only motivate Chinese companies to pursue their own research and development (R&D).

On the 9th, Chinese media including the state-run Global Times rebutted that the sanctions imposed by the Joe Biden administration on the 8th (local time), which blacklisted seven Chinese supercomputing companies for activities against US national security, will not stop China’s advancement in cutting-edge technology.

Photo by Global Times capture

These media pointed out that the US sanctions on Chinese supercomputing companies demonstrate that the US’s guiding ideology to protect itself in competition with China remains unchanged.

Mei Xinyu, a researcher at the International Trade and Economic Cooperation Institute of the Ministry of Commerce, said, "The US has imposed many restrictions on Chinese technologies that can be used by the military, including computers," and evaluated, "This measure is not new but merely an enhancement of existing sanctions."

Researcher Mei raised his voice, saying, "The US sanctions are like mosquitoes biting us," and added, "The US has been bothering us like this for years, so one more bite is not a problem." He further pointed out, "The US’s strengthened sanctions only motivate Chinese companies to accelerate their own R&D to close the technology gap in fields such as semiconductors and computers."

Earlier, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized the sanctions on Chinese companies, saying, "The US government is abusing national security to suppress Chinese advanced technology companies in order to maintain scientific and technological hegemony," and "This exposes the hypocrisy of denying market economy principles."

The US Department of Commerce stated in a release that Chinese supercomputing companies such as Tianjin Phytium Information Technology were blacklisted for involvement in the production of supercomputers for the Chinese military, cooperation in military modernization, and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. Under this measure, US companies are prohibited from dealing with these companies without prior approval from the US government.

Meanwhile, the seven companies sanctioned this time are Tianjin Phytium Information Technology, Shanghai Gongxianeng Integrated Circuit Design Center, Sunway Microelectronics, Jinan National Supercomputing Center, Shenzhen National Supercomputing Center, Wuxi National Supercomputing Center, and Zhengzhou National Supercomputing Center.