Mao Ning
Role at the time: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson
Condemned
Statement summary
Responding to AFP's question about the restriction, Mao criticizes overstretching national security and politicizing technology and trade.
“China consistently opposes overstretching the concept of national security and politicizing tech and trade issues.”
Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)Mao Ning's October 20 response to the U.S. DeepSeek restrictionAFP question about U.S. agency restrictions and Mao Ning's answer
China's foreign ministry objects to politicizing technology and trade under national-security arguments. This is the ministry's statement, not a response issued by DeepSeek.
Why we used this label
Relative to DHS's restriction, Mao expressly criticizes the national-security rationale and politicization of technology. This is a substantive objection, not merely a change in terminology.