The spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce answered reporters' questions regarding the countermeasures taken by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security against a series of negative measures involving China.
Question: Today, the Ministry of Commerce and other relevant departments announced measures to counter the negative actions taken by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Homeland Security regarding China. What are the considerations behind these measures?
Answer: Since the meeting between Chinese and American leaders in Busan, the US Federal Communications Commission has continued to generalize the concept of national security, despite strong opposition from China and calls from the Chinese and American industries. It has repeatedly introduced restrictive measures regarding telecommunications operations, testing laboratories, drones, consumer routers, submarine cables, and other areas. Recently, it has also taken measures to restrict the import of advanced robotic equipment and power inverters.
In particular, the US ignored multiple negotiations from China. After a video call between the heads of China and the US in the economic and trade field on July 30th, on July 31st, more than 40 Chinese entities were listed on what was described as an “Entity List” under the “Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act”. China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposes this action.
The measures taken by the US Federal Communications Commission and the US Department of Homeland Security in listing certain entities under the so-called “Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List” seriously violate the important consensus reached by the two heads of state. These actions also severely harm China’s legitimate rights and interests. As a result, China has no choice but to take necessary countermeasures in response. These include strengthening export controls on drones and their key components and technologies to the United States, suspending factory inspection processes carried out by Chinese certification authorities appointed by US certification bodies, listing US compliance testing companies in the countermeasures list, initiating foreign trade security investigations regarding imported printing and copying office equipment, and listing six US entities in the countermeasures list.
I would like to emphasize that China's countermeasures are generally restrained. China values the stable relationship between China and the United States in the economic and trade sphere, which has not been easy to achieve. We hope that the United States will take steps in line with China's approach. China demands that the United States immediately lift the relevant measures, stop wrongful actions, and return to the correct track of resolving differences through friendly negotiations and cooperation. We will work together to maintain a constructive strategic stability between China and the United States. If the United States continues to introduce new restrictive measures against China, China will take further countermeasures.
