China Denies U.S. Claims of Unauthorized AI Technology Extraction, Criticizes Politicization of Tech Competition

China has refuted U.S. allegations that its AI companies are illegally extracting technology from American models, emphasizing that AI development should be based on openness and collaboration. Chinese officials, including Liu Bin, a deputy minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized the U.S. for politicizing tech competition during the World AI Conference (WAIC). President Xi Jinping also stressed the importance of global cooperation in AI development. Recent debates over AI distillation techniques, exemplified by the performance of models like Alibaba's Qwen K3, have intensified tensions, with U.S. companies accusing Chinese firms of unauthorized use of their models. The U.S. government has also moved to regulate AI exports, citing national security concerns.