Beijing, Oct 16 China on Friday released a draft plan proposing new export restrictions on 14 technologies in sectors ranging from artificial intelligence to biotechnology and photovoltaic solar power, which could have significant implications for global technology competition, particularly for countries that rely on Chinese AI.
The draft, jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Science and Technology, proposes export bans for a string of AI-related technologies, certain cell and gene therapy technology platforms and technology for producing certain kinds of solar cell modules.
It also lists a further 26 technologies from the three sectors that would face fresh export restrictions.
Earlier, a similar ban by China on rare-earth metals over which it has a near monopoly disrupted global manufacturing chains, including in the US and India, as the metals are crucial for manufacturing everything from mobile phones to defence equipment. China has yet to lift the restrictions.
The draft revised catalogue proposes to prevent the outflow of high-technology and core technology.
It proposes to prohibit the export of core technologies of AI large models that are trained with national key sensitive data and AI agents that serve key national information infrastructure, national defence and core government affairs, state-run Global Times reported.
Design technologies of 2.5-dimensional and 3-dimensional AI chips, as well as 3-dimensional flash memory, are restricted for export. AI information processing technologies and voiceprint recognition technologies are also added to the proposed restriction catalogue.
For biotechnology, the notice said the measures are designed to build biosecurity barriers and ensure orderly international cooperation for China’s biomedical technologies.
For photovoltaic solar technologies, the concerns are mainly related to national security, given their growing use in strategic areas such as aerospace, defence and unmanned equipment, it said.
The measures also aim to improve the sector’s regulations on core technology exports, which can also cover related areas such as production and maintenance technology, it said.
The draft revision is currently soliciting opinions from the general public, according to the commerce ministry.
The public may submit comments on the scope of newly added technologies, indicators, control policies, facilitation measures, and other related aspects from October 16 to November 15.
(PTI News)
