Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Susan Thornton has issued a stark warning against Washington's tech containment strategies toward China, calling for collaborative approaches in artificial intelligence development during a recent policy forum. Her remarks come as global chip export controls tighten under U.S. regulations first implemented during the Trump administration.
Thornton argued that restrictive measures targeting Chinese technology companies have failed to slow China's AI advancements, citing breakthroughs like DeepSeek as evidence of accelerated innovation. "Attempts to suppress technological progress through export controls create market uncertainties that ultimately harm U.S. businesses and global supply chains," she stated.
The former diplomat criticized the framing of China as an existential tech threat, emphasizing that AI development requires international cooperation. "No single nation can monopolize AI innovation while excluding a major player like China," Thornton said, noting that Chinese researchers contribute significantly to global AI research papers and patent filings.
Her comments highlight growing concerns among policy experts about the economic costs of tech decoupling. Recent data shows U.S. semiconductor companies losing billions in potential revenue due to export restrictions, while Chinese firms increase domestic chip production capacity.
Thornton concluded by urging policymakers to establish bilateral AI governance frameworks, stressing that "shared technical standards and ethical guidelines will better serve global interests than zero-sum competition." The proposal aligns with increasing calls from multinational corporations for stable cross-Pacific tech policies.
