Recently at the Reagan National Economic Forum held in Simi Valley, California, United States Senator Mike Rounds, a Republican from South Dakota, emphasized the need for the U.S. to be vigilant against China’s theft of artificial intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge technology. He highlighted that China steals up to $600 billion in intellectual property annually and called for measures to halt the entry of Chinese students with ties to the Chinese Communist Party into American universities to safeguard U.S. innovation and military superiority.
Rounds mentioned in an interview with Fox News, “While maintaining China as a trade partner, we need to restrict its access to American technology, including AI and computer chips.” He suggested that limiting China’s ability to develop an independent market by using American technology would result in them adhering to U.S. standards when utilizing such technology.
Rather than completely withdrawing from the Chinese market, Rounds proposed that leading globally in AI and high-tech standards would provide the U.S. with a long-term competitive advantage. At the forum, participants discussed the threats posed by China, how President Trump handles trade deficits, and the prospects of maintaining America’s economic and military leadership.
Rounds stressed that the core of preserving America’s global economic dominance lies in technological development and curbing Chinese intellectual property theft. He emphasized the need to better protect U.S. intellectual property, especially in advanced technologies, to prevent Chinese espionage and data theft, which are prevalent.
Another key measure Rounds mentioned to restrict Chinese technology theft is handling Chinese, particularly CCP-affiliated, foreign students cautiously. He mentioned that some students may be pressured by the Chinese government to bring back acquired knowledge to China, suggesting a temporary halt on admitting such students until a enforceable intellectual property protection agreement is established between the U.S. and China.
Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to actively revoke visas of Chinese students, particularly those linked to the Chinese government or studying in sensitive fields. Rounds pointed out the significant structural contradiction between the nearly $500 billion in annual U.S.-China economic exchanges and the $600 billion value of intellectual property China steals each year.
Even as the U.S. aims to reach favorable agreements, Rounds stated that setting red lines is imperative if China continues to abuse technology and market exchanges. He underscored the importance of protecting America’s technological assets not only for economic reasons but also for maintaining military superiority in the face of China’s strategic competition and President Xi Jinping’s centralized control over the entire Chinese economy.
Challenges that the U.S. faces include combatting China’s rapid integration and mobilization capabilities. Rounds emphasized the necessity for the U.S. to not veer towards authoritarianism but to acknowledge the adversary’s ability for swift coordination. He highlighted that while preventing Chinese tech theft is crucial for staying ahead in future areas like AI, it is equally important to strengthen domestic investments, such as promoting AI applications in healthcare to showcase tangible improvements in people’s lives.
Rounds believes that people experiencing real benefits from AI, like early diagnosis of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s, would encourage comprehensive industry engagement, ultimately aiding the U.S. in maintaining its lead in global technological competition.