US criticisms on IPR belie its real motive

If a Beijing-Washington trade war does break out, it will be because the United States has been continuously taking unwarranted unilateral measures in the hope of reducing its trade deficit with China as well as accusing China of using improper measures to "acquire" US technologies and intellectual property.

When it comes to protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), China has for long been the target of businesses and governments from the developed world. The latest example of such an accusation is the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China's statement in March claiming foreign businesses in China are forced to disclose and transfer their technical know-how to their Chinese partners.

The Chinese government has repeatedly denied such accusations, with the Ministry of Commerce stressing that China has neither issued any law allowing the forced transfer of foreign technologies nor encouraged IPR violation in any form. Speaking at a news conference after the conclusion of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, Premier Li Keqiang emphasized that transfer of technology forced on foreign companies can never be allowed in China.