Xi Jinping Sends Message to Tech Firms as DeepSeek Labeled a Threat

Chinese President Xi Jinping has reportedly declared artificial intelligence (AI) as a cornerstone of the next technological revolution, urging China to gain a competitive advantage in this transformative field. At a Communist Party meeting for emerging technologies Xi declared that artificial intelligence changes human production methods and life patterns to become China's main strategic technology for global domination. The head of state Xi Jinping delivered remarks through Xinhua news agency which demonstrated Beijing's hard stance on dominating the Artificial Intelligence sector despite mounting pressure regarding Chinese technological progress abroad.

The leader emphasized China would use its specific resource allocation mechanisms to advance AI development through independent work while focusing on practical applications. The Chinese leader endorsed the development of AI by supporting its slow but safe and socially just progression. Xi emphasized the need for rapid scientific research teamwork and industrial applications as well as board regulatory development to obtain full AI sovereignty. According to Xi he wants China to gain full control over innovation before it matches global leaders including the United States.

China uses AI development to implement its broader approach to controlling emerging technologies. The nation has directed increased financial support toward creating artificial intelligence capabilities and quantum computing and electric vehicles (EVs) to solidify worldwide dominance as the leading EV manufacturer. AI technologies developed by the Chinese military have started moving into nonwar functions like logistics and surveillance procedures that concern Western nations about their dual-use potentials. In 2024 the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported that Chinese state-supported companies played a central role in investing $25 billion into AI development last year behind only the United States.

DeepSeek, a low-cost AI model developed by Chinese tech firm High-Flyer, exemplifies China's AI prowess. DeepSeek, which was launched in early 2025, quickly gained global attention for its low cost and high performance, positioning it as a competitor to Western models such as OpenAI. However, the tool has caused some controversy. On April 17, the United States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition designated DeepSeek as a "profound threat" to national security, alleging ties to the Communist Party and undermining US technological leadership. The committee's report raised concerns about data privacy and potential military applications, echoing broader concerns about China's growing influence in AI.

The use of DeepSeek among government officials faces restrictions from multiple global nations including India and Australia and Japan because they fear data exposure and foreign intervention. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India discovered that DeepSeek collects data which poses a threat to their 2024 Digital Personal Data Protection Act. Beijing blames Western countries with their allies for abusing trade and technology in the face of imposed restrictions. During his statement the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian criticized these bans because he believes they block innovation and create misdirection in global collaboration processes.