China to US: Stop threatening our companies with sanctions

The Trump administration has expanded the FCC Covered List to include advanced robotic devices and connected power inverters, effectively banning imports from new Chinese-made humanoid and Microsoft CFO's internal memo tells employees that its biggest AI bets are paying off. The move comes as the US government continues to tighten its control on Chinese technology across sectors ranging from telecommunications and drones to artificial intelligence to now humanoid robots. Notably, Elon Musk has previously described China’s humanoid robots as Tesla’s biggest long-term competition. The FCC said these devices pose “unacceptable risks” to US national security, citing vulnerabilities that could allow foreign actors to surveil Americans or disrupt the power grid.What US government said on banning China’s humanoid robotsIn its determination of the threats posed by robots, FCC said: “As the technology matures, advanced robotic devices have growing use cases in monitoring and securing critical infrastructure. Robots are often equipped with high-fidelity sensors, including Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), tactile, acoustic, and thermal sensors that collect and maintain sensitive data on their surroundings”.“In addition to securing critical infrastructure, advanced robotic devices also have applications in industrial manufacturing, from material handling to order fulfilment. Integrating these technologies into American manufacturing will lower production costs, increase output, and support America’s reindustrialization. In order for the American economy to rely on these technologies, we must have a secure domestic advanced robotics supply chain and industrial Base,” it further stated.Adding further, the FCC said, “All foreign-produced advanced robotic devices pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons and should be included on the FCC’s Covered List, unless the Department of War (DOW) transmits to the FCC a specific determination that a given foreign-produced advanced robotic device, or a class of such devices, does not pose such risks”.China’s response to US bans on Chinese robotsAccording to a report by South China Morning Post report, the Chinese embassy in Washington condemned the move, urging the U.S. to “abandon its hegemonic mindset” and stop threatening Chinese companies with sanctions. Embassy spokesman Liu Chang told the South China Morning Post that Beijing opposes the politicisation of science, technology, and trade issues, calling the bans “groundless pretexts.” He warned that China would take “all necessary measures” to safeguard its interests.FCC’s aggressive stanceThe report further adds, under chairman Brendan Carr, the FCC has become one of Washington’s most aggressive regulators targeting Chinese tech firms. Recent actions include bans on Chinese drones, restrictions on foreign-made routers, and moves to evict Chinese telecom carriers from U.S. networks. Republican Senator Jim Banks welcomed the latest decision, saying advanced robotics and inverters are “essential to re-industrialisation and critical infrastructure.”Echoes of Europe’s concernsChina’s statement echoed what European regulators have also been saying: stop threatening companies with sanctions and avoid turning technology competition into geopolitical confrontation. European officials have repeatedly cautioned Washington against unilateral bans that could fragment global supply chains.Get the latest technology news and updates. Download the TOI App.