On September 9, 2026, China's Ministry of Commerce responded to a joint statement by three US agencies accusing Chinese AI companies of "industrial-scale distillation" of US AI models. The ministry stated that the accusations are unfounded and lack legal basis, characterizing them as politicizing normal technical issues and applying double standards.
The ministry warned that if the US implements suppressive actions, China will resolutely take countermeasures. The response reflects escalating tensions in the AI sector between the two countries, with the US reportedly considering restrictions on Chinese access to advanced AI models and training techniques.
The accusation comes as Chinese AI companies have been rapidly closing the gap with US counterparts. DeepSeek's V4.1 Flash model, released on September 10, has been reported to comprehensively surpass the V4 Pro in performance while dramatically reducing costs, demonstrating China's growing competitiveness in large model development.
Industry analysts noted that the "distillation" accusation is part of a broader pattern of technology containment efforts, and Chinese AI companies are increasingly relying on domestic innovation and open-source ecosystems to maintain their competitive trajectory.
Source: Beijing Daily / Ministry of Commerce
