US curbs on win-win cooperation costly

As artificial intelligence developers in the United States continue to raise prices and usage costs soar, Chinese AI models are quietly gaining ground in the US market.

Since February, the percentage of tokens that come from Chinese models used by US companies on OpenRouter, a leading global AI platform, has exceeded 30 percent each week, peaking at 46 percent. In contrast, according to a CNBC report, in the first half of 2025, the US usage figure for these fundamental units of data processed by AI models was only 4.5 percent.

While matching the capabilities of top-tier overseas models, Chinese alternatives are priced at perhaps one-tenth the cost or even less, empowering global users to deploy AI in their respective application scenarios more rapidly and affordably.

The emerging commercial potential of what has been dubbed the "token economy" is already evident in the encouraging financial reports from some Chinese AI companies. Some industry insiders foresee China becoming the world's "token factory" by capitalizing on its energy strengths.

However, while US companies are eagerly embracing Chinese AI technology, Washington is eyeing the rise of China's AI with unease. One lawmaker proposed a "Decoupling America's Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act" early last year in response to the "DeepSeek shock".

Such moves are already a staple in the telecommunications sector. In the latest move, the US Federal Communications Commission announced on Tuesday that it is adding California-based Digitalsystem Technology to a list of companies deemed to pose risks to US "national security" because of its "connections" to Chinese telecom companies. Last month, the agency also stated it would prohibit the use of Chinese equipment in undersea internet cables, citing what it considers "an unacceptable risk to national security".

Additionally, the FCC is reportedly drafting a ban on imports of Chinese inverters, baselessly claiming they could "disrupt" power supplies. These suppressive moves follow earlier FCC bans on new foreign models of drones and routers, which primarily target Chinese products. The unwarranted crackdown not only deprives Chinese businesses of a fair, just and nondiscriminatory environment, but also harms the US' own interests.

The US' politicized crackdown on Chinese high-tech enterprises will only raise costs for US businesses and harm the interests of US consumers. This approach contradicts fundamental market principles and undermines the mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship between China and the US.

Cooperation benefits both sides, whereas conflict harms both. US policymakers should stop their unwarranted suppression of Chinese high-tech companies, including pressuring their allies to implement high-tech trade embargoes.

On Tuesday, Dutch Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma said in Beijing that his country and China were cooperating "extremely well" to resolve a dispute involving chipmaker Nexperia. Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, at a meeting with his Dutch guest, expressed the hope the Netherlands will help maintain the stability of semiconductor supply chains and resolve corporate disputes.

The visit coincides with the US pushing the Multilateral Alignment of Technology Controls on Hardware, which aims to further expand export controls on semiconductors to China. The Dutch government is lobbying the US to reconsider the restrictive move as it would constrain Dutch semiconductor giant ASML's ability to sell to China.

In contrast to the US' hegemonic approach in the high-tech sector, China has advocated a collaborative strategy, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation to achieve shared innovation progress. This approach highlights the potential benefits of pooling resources, knowledge, and expertise across borders to address global challenges and drive technological advancements that can benefit all nations.

As a leading advocate, promoter, and pioneer in AI capacity building, China has introduced the Global AI Governance Initiative. This initiative aims to help countries share the benefits of artificial intelligence and bridge the global AI divide. It emphasizes a people-centered approach, prioritizing human well-being, social security and respect for national sovereignty, while promoting AI as a tool for sustainable development and addressing global challenges such as climate change.

In this rapidly evolving technological landscape, nations should prioritize cooperation over confrontation to ensure that technology serves humanity's best interests.