China has criticised Washington’s decision to prohibit federal civilian agencies from using artificial intelligence products linked to DeepSeek, arguing that the restriction misuses national security concerns to justify technology and trade restrictions.
The dispute comes amid growing rivalry between Beijing and Washington over advancements in artificial intelligence, with both countries exchanging allegations over technology theft and potential security breaches.
The US Department of Homeland Security announced the restriction on Monday, directing civilian government agencies to discontinue DeepSeek’s AI products, including third-party applications built with its technology. American officials warned that using the tools could expose confidential government information to Chinese authorities.
Responding to the decision on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning accused Washington of turning national security into a justification for political interference in technological development and commercial activities.
“China has consistently opposed the overstretching of the concept of national security and the politicisation of issues related to science, technology, and trade,” Mao told reporters.
The restriction covers civilian federal departments under the Homeland Security Department’s authority but does not extend to the US military or intelligence agencies.
In its announcement, the department described DeepSeek’s AI systems as presenting several potential security vulnerabilities and instructed agencies to remove them from government information technology equipment.
Officials also cautioned that government workers and contractors who use the applications could inadvertently transmit sensitive information to China.
According to the department, DeepSeek’s servers are based in China, where existing laws could give authorities broad access to privately operated company infrastructure.
The French news agency Agence France-Presse said it had contacted DeepSeek for a response to the allegations.
DeepSeek emerged as a major competitor in the global AI market in January 2025 after introducing a chatbot that combined relatively low development costs with strong performance, challenging expectations about American leadership in the industry.
The Chinese technology company subsequently introduced its anticipated V4 model in April and released an updated version this month, offering a faster and more compact alternative.
Washington has repeatedly accused leading Chinese AI developers, including DeepSeek, of unlawfully obtaining capabilities from advanced American-developed systems. Chinese companies have faced increased scrutiny as competition between the two countries intensifies.
Despite the ongoing tensions, both governments agreed in September to establish a communication mechanism for addressing incidents involving artificial intelligence.
The issue could feature in discussions when the American and Chinese presidents meet next month for a summit in Shenzhen, southern China.
AFP
