The US Department of Commerce recently altered the wording of its May 12 press release regarding export controls on AI chips. The original statement, which asserted that "using Huawei Ascend chips anywhere in the world violates US export controls," was amended to "alerts industry to the risks of using PRC advanced-computing ICs, including specific Huawei Ascend chips."
This photo taken on May 13, 2025 shows an unmanned helicopter used for emergency rescue at the booth of Chinese UAV enterprise United Aircraft at the fourth Yangtze River Delta International Emergency Disaster Reduction and Rescue Expo in Shanghai, China. (Photo: Xinhua)
In response, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce stated that the US' move seriously undermines the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, poses a grave threat to the security and stability of the global semiconductor supply chain, and severely impacts global technological innovation.
Tripping others will not make one run faster. Resorting to unilateral protectionist measures in an attempt to blockade and isolate other countries will only erode America's own industrial competitiveness and ultimately backfire.
In recent years, under the pretext of safeguarding national security, the US has resorted to "small yard, high fences" to block China's path to technological advancement and hinder its industrial upgrading. In the face of unreasonable suppression, China has demonstrated through concrete actions that such efforts will not hold back Chinese development, as what does not defeat you only makes you stronger.
Resilience in the face of pressure stems from strong industrial and market foundations
Eight years ago, the US launched a trade war against China. Since then, high-tech enterprises such as Huawei have come under increasingly intense scrutiny and restrictions.
These chokeholds have only galvanized China's resolve for self-reliance. Researchers have worked around the clock to push through critical technological bottlenecks, enhance the industrial chain, and leverage China's vast domestic market.
As a result, domestically produced chips have broken through the blockade, homegrown 5G smartphones have entered the market, and Chinese-developed operating systems have steadily evolved.
After weathering numerous challenges, China has significantly narrowed the gap in key areas such as core chips and foundational software, with its electronic information industry becoming more resilient.
The Loongson CPU ecosystem is evolving at a faster pace, large-diameter main bearings are now being used in tunnel boring machines, and breakthroughs have been made in core laser components.
Across sectors such as industrial software, major equipment and scientific instruments, innovation continues to flourish, offering strong responses to external pressures.
The MateBook Fold Extraordinary Master, Huawei's latest foldable laptop, debuts in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 19, 2025. (Photo: CGTN)
Recently, the HarmonyOS operating system made its debut on personal computers (PCs). Built from the kernel up with full-stack autonomous control, this milestone marks a major leap forward for Chinese-made operating systems in the PC domain.
With a robust industrial base and a vast market, China's technological innovation and industrial innovation are advancing hand in hand, propelling the country toward high-quality development and cutting-edge breakthroughs.
Resilience in the face of pressure stems from China's accumulated momentum in innovation
Looking back, from the development of "two bombs, one satellite" to manned space missions, from homegrown large aircraft to quantum computing, China has always advanced with its own strength.
Meeting challenges head-on has forged the spirit, willpower, and strength of the Chinese nation; it has strengthened the nation's confidence, resolve and self-reliance. By tapping into the power of asymmetric strategies and leveraging the advantages of a new system for mobilizing resources nationwide, China's pace of innovation has only grown stronger.
After years of steady investment, China's capacity for independent innovation has risen sharply. Major breakthroughs are emerging across various fields, and new industries and business models, from AI and drones to new energy technologies, are booming. In an increasing number of areas, China is transitioning from a follower to a peer and even a leader on the global stage.
The DeepSeek website on a laptop screen in London, the United Kingdom, January 29, 2025. (Photo: CFP)
China's innovation drive is backed by strong inputs. R&D spending has increased year after year, reaching over 3.6 trillion yuan (about $500 billion) last year, ranking second globally. China has topped the world in the number of R&D personnel for 11 consecutive years, with a workforce more than ten times the size of that 30 years ago. China is also the first country in the world to hold more than 4 million valid invention patents. Over the past decade, China has climbed to 11th in the Global Innovation Index and is one of the fastest-rising economies in terms of innovation capacity.
Resilience in the face of pressure also comes from a deep understanding of the global trend in technological development
Today's world is marked by increasingly close technological cooperation and deeply intertwined innovation chains. Take the production of smartphones as an example: it integrates a multitude of technologies, from chips and cameras to high-end machine tools and precision molds, drawing on collective wisdom from laboratories to assembly lines. Many foundational, long-cycle, and highly specialized innovations or industries cannot be completed by one country alone.
The US' effort to erect a "technological iron curtain" flies in the face of the global trend toward open collaboration. Such moves will not make America stronger – they will severely undermine its global competitiveness.
Recently, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang stated in an interview that China's AI market could reach $50 billion within the next two to three years, adding that missing out on this market would be a huge loss.
People interact with a humanoid robot in Beijing, China, April 28, 2025. (Photo: VCG)
Forcing US companies to decouple from China and recklessly suppress China's technological development, disregarding market principles and the trends of innovation, are short-sighted moves that will ultimately harm the US itself.
With a global perspective on innovation, China continues to grow through openness and cooperation while contributing to global development. With the twin pillars of self-reliance and mutual benefit, both the trend of the times and the momentum of development are on China's side.
China is well-prepared to navigate an increasingly complex and challenging external environment, and it is steadily rolling out strategic responses.
Efforts are underway to foster a fair and well-regulated market environment, strengthen intellectual property protection, and better align innovation resources with enterprises as the main drivers of R&D. These steps are creating a more supportive ecosystem for innovation. Since the start of this year, several AI startups in Hangzhou – collectively known as the "Six Little Dragons" – have risen to prominence, thanks in no small part to a sound business environment.
Policies to enhance R&D tax incentives are being refined to ease the financial burden on enterprises. Support for early-stage, small-scale, long-term and hard-tech investments is increasing, with a host of tech-finance products tailored to the needs of new quality productive forces. Cutting-edge innovations in fields such as quantum information and brain-computer interfaces are emerging, giving China's innovation engine powerful forward momentum.
China will not be swept away by challenges. Through unyielding struggle, it will carve out new space for development. The fiercest winds and waves are precisely where China will soar like Ne Zha rising from the sea, and take flight toward new heights.