US tightens restrictions on technology exports to curb China's military potential

In recent months, the U.S. has implemented a series of stringent export controls targeting technology and equipment that could enhance China's military capabilities, particularly in fields such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology. These measures are a response to concerns that U.S. technology could be repurposed by China to develop new weapons or improve existing military systems. The U.S. Department of Commerce has added numerous Chinese semiconductor companies to its export control entity list, reflecting a growing anxiety regarding competition in high-tech industries. This shift in policy emphasizes the importance of maintaining a technological edge over potential adversaries. The latest restrictions include controls on high-parameter flow cytometers and mass spectrometry equipment, which can generate data crucial for advancing AI and biological design tools. The U.S. government fears that such technology may be applied for purposes that could enhance military performance and contribute to biological weapon development. Furthermore, lawmakers are actively exploring strategies to safeguard personal health and genetic information from foreign threats, illustrating a broader concern about national security. There is an increasing acknowledgment that certain industries essential to national security must be revitalized within the U.S. This has led to calls for policy reforms aimed at reducing reliance on foreign sources, particularly in the biopharmaceutical sector. U.S. lawmakers are increasingly seeking ways to establish firm barriers against foreign adversaries accessing critical technology, which they believe is necessary to maintaining national and global security. These developments indicate a shift in industrial policy as the U.S. grapples with the implications of globalization and technological advances on national security. The effort to limit China's access to advanced technologies underscores a larger strategic aim to curb its ascent in the global industrial hierarchy, highlighting the complexities of modern geopolitical competition. The U.S. is poised to intensify focus on industrial policy, which will have lasting effects on the landscape of global technology and industrialization.