China: "US Abuses Export Controls to Maintain Hegemony and Suppress China"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The Chinese government strongly criticized the United States on the 30th for leading Japan and the Netherlands to join export controls on semiconductors to China, stating, "The United States is abusing export controls for its own hegemony and self-interest, coercing and persuading some countries to suppress China."

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a regular briefing on the 30th, "We will resolutely safeguard our legitimate rights and interests." This was in response to the recent high-level meeting held in Washington DC among the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands, where Japan and the Netherlands agreed to join export controls on semiconductors to China.

He emphasized, "The United States politicizes and weaponizes economic, trade, and technological issues, destroying market rules and the international economic and trade order," adding, "China firmly opposes this."

Spokesperson Mao added, "We believe that all countries should act cautiously based on their long-term interests and the common interests of the international community."

The United States, Japan, and the Netherlands decided not to disclose specific details of their agreement on semiconductor export controls to China. However, according to foreign media reports, as a result of this agreement, the Dutch semiconductor equipment company ASML will be prohibited from exporting not only the advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment, which has been banned since 2019, but also the older generation deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography equipment to China.

Regarding reports that Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, plans to visit Taiwan this spring, Mao Ning warned, "Do not cross the red line."

He stated, "We hope that U.S. lawmakers will strictly adhere to the 'One China' principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, refrain from actions that affect China-U.S. relations and undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," emphasizing, "The Taiwan issue is a core interest of China and the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and it is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations."

Furthermore, regarding the Ukraine and North Korean nuclear issues to be discussed during U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken's visit to China early next month, Mao Ning stated, "China has always focused on political solutions, dialogue, and negotiation, and opposes words and actions that pour oil on the fire and escalate conflicts."