Full Breakdown
China Demands End to U.S. Espionage Ahead of Xi-Trump Meeting
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
China’s Ministry of Commerce issued a statement urging the United States to “immediately stop all espionage activities” targeting Chinese companies. The ministry warned that Beijing has “firm resolve and abundant means” to retaliate if the United States continues intelligence operations against China’s artificial-intelligence, semiconductor and biotechnology sectors.
Background & Context
The demand comes amid intensifying competition over advanced technologies, which analysts describe as the new battleground in the U.S.–China rivalry. The remarks follow a public speech by Michael Ellis, the deputy director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, in which he described Chinese firms in AI, chips and biotech as “legitimate targets” for economic espionage. The timing is notable because a summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping is scheduled for September 24 in Washington, where technology and trade issues are expected to dominate the agenda.
Official Statements & Responses
- He said the United States must develop expertise to gather and analyse information on strategic sectors such as semiconductors and biotechnology.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We have to be able to collect foreign intelligence relevant to that economic security dimension of the competition, which means we need expertise about how to collect that information, how to analyse it.” — Michael Ellis, the deputy director of the US Central Intelligence Agency
What’s Next
China’s condemnation is slated for September 11, and the ministry indicated that “necessary measures” could be taken in response to continued U.S. espionage. The upcoming White House meeting on September 24 will likely address these security concerns, though no concrete retaliation plan has been disclosed.