US bans DeepSeek from government use; China protests but blocks ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini domestically

The US Department of Homeland Security recently ordered civilian federal agencies to remove all products from Chinese AI company DeepSeek from IT systems. The ban also covers software built by other vendors on DeepSeek's open-source models and prohibits future procurement. Washington says it fears Beijing could obtain sensitive data through DeepSeek. China's Foreign Ministry accused the US of overexpanding the concept of national security, while the Commerce Ministry demanded the ban be withdrawn and vowed firm countermeasures. The original report also notes that since 2023 China has required cyberspace regulators to review AI services; ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini have not been approved, and the rule applies to the whole market rather than only government agencies. State-owned institutions and SOEs are also being asked to gradually replace foreign hardware and software with domestic products. Last week Beijing also proposed AI technology export and licensing controls similar to US practice. For overseas AI vendors planning to enter China, this round of confrontation means compliance reviews and politically oriented requirements are hard thresholds; for Chinese AI companies going global, US federal procurement channels are essentially closed. The protests are more a political signal, paving the way for subsequent countermeasures.