Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepSeek has unveiled its latest large model, DeepSeek-R1, which has made significant strides in various fields while maintaining an unexpectedly low cost. As a result, it has gained widespread recognition across multiple countries. Although this represents a positive advancement in AI, certain factions and individuals in the United States have reacted with hostility and opposition toward DeepSeek. However, if the U.S. government attempts to obstruct its progress through tariffs, export restrictions, or intellectual property claims, such measures would not only slow down the broader advancement of AI technology but also negatively impact the U.S.’s own AI industry, hindering its orderly growth.
DeepSeek’s success serves as proof that efforts to monopolize technology and curb China’s scientific progress under the guise of national security are ultimately futile. Since 2022, the U.S. government has placed restrictions on the export of Nvidia’s high-end chips to China, intending to hinder its AI development through a strategy known as “small yard, high fence.” Despite these limitations, DeepSeek managed to achieve a breakthrough with limited computing power, once again confirming the concept that “sanctions foster innovation.”
As economist Tyler Cowen noted, while the chip ban delayed China’s access to cutting-edge hardware, it also pushed the country toward developing more efficient alternatives, leading to “unintended secondary consequences.” Furthermore, this shift in technological balance undermines the U.S. strategy of controlling semiconductor supply chains. Other nations may follow DeepSeek’s lead, compelling the U.S. to reassess the long-term effectiveness of its trade restrictions.
Although AI software often carries a national identity, its technological advancements benefit humanity as a whole. Within U.S. think tanks, there is an ongoing debate regarding China policy: one side advocates collaboration to maximize shared gains, while the other insists on escalating tensions and pursuing “decoupling.” However, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and other tech leaders acknowledge that DeepSeek’s progress will make AI more accessible. If the U.S. remains committed to a zero-sum approach, it risks isolating itself from global innovation. In the absence of clear rules, technological competition could easily transform into outright conflict. Cooperation, rather than division, is the key to achieving mutual progress in AI.
Applying outdated geopolitical tactics to manage a 21st-century technological revolution will only cause the U.S. to miss critical opportunities for growth. Whether it chooses to continue focusing on restrictions or instead seeks new ways to lead in innovation will determine the trajectory of its technological standing.
DeepSeek’s rise is likely to act as a catalyst for further advancements in AI. Microsoft and OpenAI are accelerating model development, Meta has introduced optimizations to reduce energy consumption during training, and even traditionally closed-off Silicon Valley tech giants are reassessing their open-source strategies. Who’s to say that this wave of internal restructuring among American firms won’t lead to the next major breakthrough? At the same time, it is clear that attempting to “decouple” from China will inevitably backfire on U.S. businesses.
Despite external constraints and technological blockades, China has continued to make impressive progress. This should prompt reflection among policymakers in Washington: What have the attempts to suppress China’s technological rise actually achieved for both nations? U.S. chip restrictions have repeatedly harmed its own semiconductor companies, the Wolf Amendment has created barriers in space research, and the blockade against Huawei has done little to halt its innovation and R&D. Time and again, history has proven a simple truth—one that DeepSeek reinforces today: never underestimate the intelligence and ingenuity of the Chinese people, and never underestimate China’s determination to advance and remain open to the world.
In response to breakthroughs like DeepSeek’s, certain voices in the U.S. remain fixated on obstructing technological progress in other nations, reflecting both their anxiety over maintaining global dominance and their short-term thinking. From a political economy standpoint, sanctions have consistently failed to suppress innovation; instead, they have encouraged alternative solutions. Within the global trade system, unilateral restrictions have accelerated the restructuring of regulations and supply chains. Washington must come to terms with the fact that a “small yard, high fence” approach will not succeed in stalling China’s technological momentum. As leaders in AI development, both China and the U.S. have an opportunity to collaborate in areas such as AI ethics, cross-border data governance, and cybersecurity. By working together, both nations—and the world—stand to benefit from AI’s continued evolution.
Source: Global Times
