Translated by ChatGPT, edited by Sinocism.com

Source: Ministry of Commerce 商务部 (reposted by Xinhua) | July 27, 2026

Question: In recent days, some senior US officials have publicly said that they will investigate Chinese artificial intelligence companies over their alleged “distillation” of leading US models, and may sanction Chinese companies on grounds including “theft of US intellectual property.” What is China’s comment?

**问：**近日，美国一些高级官员公开表示将针对中国人工智能企业所谓“蒸馏”美前沿模型开展调查，并可能以“窃取美国知识产权”等为由制裁中国企业。请问中方对此有何评论？

Answer: We have noted the relevant situation. China has consistently opposed the US side politicizing and weaponizing science, technology, economic and trade issues, stigmatizing Chinese companies on all manner of groundless pretexts, and imposing sanctions on them. The US side disregards facts such as that the release dates of the AI models of the Chinese companies concerned were very close to those of leading US models, and that some Chinese models are already at the forefront in capabilities. It labels Chinese companies as supposedly relying on “distillation” and “stealing US intellectual property,” and threatens to suppress and sanction them. These actions lack a factual basis, have no legal grounding, and apply double standards in practice. They are typical acts of artificial intelligence hegemonism.

**答：**我们注意到有关情况。中方一贯反对美方将科技经贸问题政治化、工具化，以各种莫须有的理由污名化中国企业并实施制裁。美方罔顾有关中国企业人工智能模型与美前沿模型发布时间非常接近、中国部分模型能力已处于领先地位等事实，给中国企业扣上所谓依靠“蒸馏”“窃取美国知识产权”等帽子，还威胁进行打压制裁。这些做法缺乏事实依据，没有法理支撑，在实践上搞双重标准，属于典型的人工智能霸权主义行径。

Innovation is not the exclusive preserve of any party. Chinese AI companies have long devoted themselves to basic research, giving equal emphasis to self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology and to open cooperation. Upholding the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, they have promoted the rapid development of AI technology and achieved encouraging results in a growing number of fields, including front-end coding capabilities. It is understood that many US AI companies have distilled Chinese models in their research, development and training. Notably, many companies in US industry have publicly opposed US threats to sanction Chinese AI companies. Nearly 200 US startups have urged the US government not to cut off access to Chinese open-source models, arguing that doing so would weaken the competitiveness of US companies. Some large US multinational companies have said that model distillation is a technology widely used across the industry and that US companies should be allowed to use Chinese open-source AI models.

创新不是任何一方的专利。中国人工智能企业长期深耕基础研究，坚持科技自立自强与开放合作并重，秉持共商、共建、共享理念，推动人工智能技术快速发展，在前端代码能力等越来越多的领域取得喜人成就。据了解，很多美国人工智能企业在研发和训练中蒸馏了中国的模型。值得注意的是，美业界众多企业公开反对美国威胁制裁中国人工智能企业。近200家美国初创企业敦促美国政府不要切断对中国开源模型的访问，认为这将削弱美国企业竞争力。一些美国大型跨国企业表示，模型蒸馏是一种行业广泛应用的技术，应允许美国企业使用中国开源人工智能模型。

China urges the US side to listen to the objective and rational voices of industry in both China and the United States, correct its hegemonic thinking, and stop smearing Chinese companies and threatening them with sanctions. In response to any action that causes substantive harm to China’s interests, China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its legitimate and lawful rights and interests. We hope the US side will earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, work with China in the same direction, strengthen dialogue and communication on AI, and jointly promote the sound development of AI for good, benefiting both countries and the world by advancing and improving AI governance.

中方敦促美方倾听中美两国业界客观、理性声音，纠正霸权思维，停止对中国企业的抹黑和制裁威胁。对于任何实质性损害中方利益的行为，中方将采取一切必要措施，坚定维护自身正当合法权益。希望美方切实落实两国元首共识，同中方相向而行，加强人工智能对话、沟通，共同推动人工智能向上向善，通过推进并完善人工智能治理造福两国和世界。