China Criticizes U.S. Ban on DeepSeek A.I. in Government Systems

China on Tuesday accused the United States of discrimination “under the pretext of so-called national security” after a U.S. order banned products by the Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek from the technological systems of many U.S. government agencies.

The American order, published on Monday but issued in July, and the Chinese recriminations inflamed tensions between the two nations amid their frenzied race for A.I. primacy. Some experts have likened the close competition to the nuclear arms race of the 20th century, with potentially huge stakes for humanity.

Citing fears that China may gain access to sensitive U.S. data from DeepSeek to “produce actionable intelligence,” the Department of Homeland Security ordered the removal of all the company’s products — and those from other firms reliant on its open-source offerings — from the information technology systems in civilian executive branch agencies. It also banned future acquisitions of the products.

In issuing the order, which went into effect this summer, U.S. officials contended that the Chinese legal system allows that government extensive access to Chinese company infrastructure, making the U.S. government vulnerable to the exposure of sensitive information.

Chinese officials on Tuesday accused the United States of using disingenuous national security concerns to suppress Chinese companies.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that China had passed laws to protect cybersecurity and data privacy to ensure that its companies can comply with relevant laws worldwide. It called on the United States to “withdraw” any restrictive measures.