China blasts US for its computer chip moves and for threatening student
visas
[June 02, 2025] By
CHRISTOPHER BODEEN
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China blasted the U.S. on Monday over moves it
alleged harmed Chinese interests, including issuing AI chip export
control guidelines, stopping the sale of chip design software to China,
and planning to revoke Chinese student visas.
“These practices seriously violate the consensus” reached during trade
discussions in Geneva last month, the Commerce Ministry said in a
statement.
That referred to a China-U.S. joint statement in which the United States
and China agreed to slash their massive recent tariffs, restarting
stalled trade between the world’s two biggest economies.
But last month's de-escalation in President Donald Trump’s trade wars
did nothing to resolve underlying differences between Beijing and
Washington and Monday's statement showed how easily such agreements can
lead to further turbulence.
The deal lasts 90 days, creating time for U.S. and Chinese negotiators
to reach a more substantive agreement. But the pause also leaves tariffs
higher than before Trump started ramping them up last month. And
businesses and investors must contend with uncertainty about whether the
truce will last.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the U.S. agreed to drop
the 145% tax Trump imposed last month to 30%. China agreed to lower its
tariff rate on U.S. goods to 10% from 125%.
The Commerce Ministry said China held up its end of the deal, canceling
or suspending tariffs and non-tariff measures taken against the U.S.
“reciprocal tariffs” following the agreement.
"The United States has unilaterally provoked new economic and trade
frictions, exacerbating the uncertainty and instability of bilateral
economic and trade relations,” while China has stood by its commitments,
the statement said.
It also threatened unspecified retaliation, saying China will “continue
to take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its legitimate
rights and interests.”
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American flags are displayed together with Chinese flags on top of a
trishaw on Sept. 16, 2018, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
 And in response to recent comments
by Trump, it said of the U.S.: “Instead of reflecting on itself, it
has turned the tables and unreasonably accused China of violating
the consensus, which is seriously contrary to the facts.”
Trump stirred further controversy Friday, saying he will no longer
be nice with China on trade, declaring in a social media post that
the country had broken an agreement with the United States.
Hours later, Trump said in the Oval Office that he will speak with
Chinese President Xi Jinping and “hopefully we’ll work that out,”
while still insisting China had violated the agreement.
“The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS
TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,” Trump posted. “So much for
being Mr. NICE GUY!”
The Trump administration also stepped up the clash with China in
other ways last week, announcing that it would start revoking visas
for Chinese students studying in the U.S.
U.S. campuses host more than 275,000 students from China.
Both countries are in a race to develop advanced technologies such
as artificial intelligence, with Washington seeking to curb China’s
access to the most advanced computer chips. China is also seeking to
displace the U.S. as the leading power in the Asia-Pacific,
including through gaining control over close U.S. partner and
leading tech giant Taiwan.
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