China to work with intl community to oppose protectionism, bullying practices in sci-tech

BEIJING -- China will work with the international community to oppose unilateralism, protectionism and bullying practices in sci-tech, and promote the steady recovery of the world economy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday.

The US government introduced new export bans on China's chip industry not long ago. According to reports, the United States is scrambling to tackle unintended consequences of the new policy that could inadvertently harm its own semiconductor supply chain.

In response to these reports, Mao told a daily news briefing that China firmly opposes the United States' overstretching of the national security concept and abuse of export control measures to wantonly hobble Chinese enterprises.

The global industrial and supply chains come into shape as a result of both the law of the market and the choices of businesses. Arbitrarily placing curbs for political purposes destabilizes the supply and industrial chains, hurts others and backfires on oneself. It will only further weaken the already fragile world economy, Mao said.

China plays an important role in global supply and industrial chains and in shoring up their security, Mao said. This year, China and six other countries, including Indonesia, launched and supported the Initiative of International Cooperation on Resilient and Stable Industrial and Supply Chains.

"We will work with the international community to oppose unilateralism, protectionism and bullying practices in sci-tech, uphold the principle of openness, fairness and non-discrimination, jointly safeguard the stability of the system, rules and foundation of the world economy, and promote the steady recovery of the world economy," she said.