China Criticizes U.S. Over Export Guidance Targeting Huawei AI Chips

China has sharply criticized recent U.S. export guidance targeting Huawei’s Ascend AI chips, claiming it threatens the stability of global semiconductor supply chains. The warning followed new guidance from the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, which cautioned companies that using Huawei’s AI chips could violate American export control laws.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson He Yongqian accused the U.S. of “abusing export control measures” and urged Washington to correct its actions. He stated that China will take necessary steps to safeguard the legitimate interests of its enterprises.

The guidance targets Huawei’s advanced Ascend series of AI semiconductors, which have emerged as key competitors to chips produced by U.S. tech leader Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) in the Chinese market. The move underscores ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to restrict China's access to cutting-edge chip technologies amid rising concerns over national security and tech dominance.

Huawei, based in Shenzhen, has faced multiple rounds of U.S. sanctions since being added to the Entity List in 2019. Despite these hurdles, the company has pushed forward in developing high-performance chips, prompting increased scrutiny from regulators.

Beijing sees such restrictions as politically motivated and harmful to global supply chain stability. Analysts warn that continued regulatory clashes between the U.S. and China could create long-term uncertainty for semiconductor companies and global tech firms navigating international markets.