China expressed anger and opposition to a bill in the United States aimed at boosting American tech competitiveness, saying it unnecessarily inflames tensions between the two superpowers and attempts to slow its development.
China’s Foreign Affairs Committee issued a statement on Wednesday expressing “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” to the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, which it said maligns China’s domestic and foreign policies and attempts to harm its sovereignty.
The bill, championed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, passed the chamber with strong bipartisan support on Tuesday. It’s unclear if the bill will pass the Democratic-led House, which is soon expected to consider it.
The legislation is an attempt to counter China’s economic and political ambitions through measures that would spend $250 billion to increase U.S. technology research in areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning and boost semiconductor manufacturing.
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The bill would also confront China’s theft of U.S. intellectual property, among other China-related initiatives, to protect U.S. national security and economic interests.
“How the U.S. intends to develop and strengthen its competitiveness is its own business,” Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a daily press briefing. “But we are firmly against the U.S. making an issue out of China and perceiving it as an imaginary enemy.”
“The U.S. is the greatest threat to itself. Getting its own house in order trumps all else,” Wang added.
Wang took particular issue with parts of the bill that refer to China’s actions relating to Taiwan, the island democracy that China claims is part of its own territory; Hong Kong, where fights over democratic rights have rocked the city in the past year; Xinjiang, where China has been criticized for abusing minority Muslim groups, and Tibet, where human rights atrocities have been committed by the Chinese government for decades.
“We urge the U.S. to adjust its mindset, look at China’s development and China-U.S. relations in a rational light, stop pushing the relevant bill, and stop meddling in China’s internal affairs to avoid undermining overall bilateral relations and cooperation in important areas,” Wang said.
The Chinese government has enacted various policy initiatives that are supposed to strengthen its own competitiveness and grow its advanced technology sectors.
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The Chinese Communist Party has a tight grip over large sections of the Chinese economy and academic institutions in which it can dictate what should be focused on.
