Chinese tech companies on Tuesday voiced their strong opposition to the US government’s decision to add them to a trade blacklist over perceived human rights violations against predominantly ethnic minorities. China Daily/ANN
Chinese tech companies on Tuesday voiced their strong opposition to the US government’s decision to add them to a trade blacklist over perceived human rights violations against predominantly ethnic minorities, saying that such a move will hurt US suppliers and hamper global efforts to improve human rights around the world.
A corporate spokesperson of Chinese video surveillance company Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co Ltd (Hikvision) said in a statement to China Daily that the firm opposes the decision.
“Punishing Hikvision . . . will deter global companies from communicating with the US government, hurt Hikvision’s US businesses partners and negatively impact the US economy,” the spokesperson said.
The comments came after the US government placed eight Chinese technology giants on a US blacklist on Monday, accusing them of being implicated in human rights violations.
The eight firms are – Hikvision; Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co Ltd; iFlytek Co Ltd; Megvii Technology Ltd; SenseTime Group Ltd; Xiamen Meiya Pico Information Co Ltd; YITU Technology; and Yixin Science and Technology Co Ltd.
Companies on the list are prohibited from doing business with US suppliers without a special government licence.
According to Hikvision, the company, as the security industry’s global leader, respects human rights and takes its responsibility to protect people in the US and the world seriously.
Hikvision has been engaging with US administration officials over the past 12 months to clarify misunderstandings about the company and address concerns.
In January, Hikvision retained human rights expert and former US ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper to advise the company on human rights compliance.
Computer vision giant Megvii, backed by Alibaba Group, also said in a statement that the company will take countermeasures and continue to provide customers with stable and high-quality services.
It also opposed the ban and said the US government put the company on the blacklist without offering any evidence.
Megvii said the company has always been dedicated to using AI for the benefit of mankind and that it operates in accordance with all relevant laws and regulations.
Chinese artificial intelligence pioneer iFlytek said on Tuesday that the ban will not have a significant impact on its daily operations as most of its core technologies are self-developed.
Meanwhile iFlytek said it has backup plans to respond to such a ban and can continue offering services and products to its clients.
CHINA DAILY
