China accuses U.S. of abusing tech export controls

US widens military presence in Philippines

North Korea warns of ‘overwhelming nuclear force’ to counter US

US opens embassy in Solomon Islands

Beijing: Amid the increasing tension in the South China Sea, China has criticized United States’ controls on technology exports as a trade violation, after Japan and the Netherlands agreed to join Washington in limiting Beijing’s access to materials to make advanced processor chips they say can be used in weapons.

Though the Chinese foreign ministry didn’t mention the latest development but accused Washington of abusing export controls and organizing other governments to “maintain its hegemony” and contain China.

The U.S. is trying to block China from acquiring the most powerful processor chips and technology that would help its fledgling industry develop the ability to make them. Washington says they can be used to make weapons and to facilitate the ruling Communist Party’s surveillance and human rights abuses.

“This seriously violates market principles and international trade order,” said a ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning. She said it “undermines the stability of global industrial and supply chains.”

A person familiar with the agreement told news agencies that Japan and the Netherlands, important suppliers of technology and raw materials to make chips, agreed to join in U.S. controls. Mao gave no indication how Beijing might respond to tighter export controls. China has invested billions of dollars to develop its own chip industry, but its vendors still need foreign manufacturing equipment, raw materials and other technology.

Meanwhile, the U.S. and the Philippines Thursday announced an expansion of America’s military presence in the Southeast Asian country, with U.S. forces granted access to four more military camps, effectively giving Washington new ground to ramp up deterrence against China.

The agreement between the longtime allies was made public during the visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who has led efforts to strengthen America’s security alliances in Asia in the face of China’s increasing assertiveness toward Taiwan and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Image courtesy of (Image: Nextgov)

Share this post