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Several Chinese industry associations have responded to the latest round of US export restrictions on China's chip industry by declaring that "US chip products are no longer safe and reliable," which has triggered ripples internationally on Wednesday. Some Western media outlets have been dissecting these statements line by line, with certain US media expressing concerns over potential Chinese "countermeasures." Meanwhile, US allies worry these "countermeasures" could spark a "China-US trade war 2.0" that would affect other countries. The White House, in turn, has stated that it would take "necessary steps to mitigate any Chinese "coercive actions." This is a classic case of turning the tables.

In fact, during the initial stages of the US planning its new round of export restrictions, relevant industry associations, companies, and reputable media in the US had already warned Washington that using protectionism to hinder China's technological progress would not achieve the intended policy outcomes; instead, it would "stimulate" China to accelerate its independent innovation efforts.

It must be made clear that in the face of external suppression and containment, China has every right to protect its interests from unwarranted harm. At the same time, China consistently considers the broader perspective of maintaining global trade order and the stability of industrial and supply chains when making decisions. The core logic of China's response to suppression and containment in the technology sector has always been self-reliance and self-strengthening.

An undeniable fact is that the US has developed a long-term "strategic consensus" on suppressing China's technological advancement, maintaining a high degree of policy coherence in this regard. From tightening export controls on advanced chip manufacturing equipment to pressuring other countries to form a "besiege" against China's semiconductor industry, expanding the "entity list" of Chinese high-tech companies, restricting Chinese investments and acquisitions in the US, and limiting technological exchanges and cooperation between US and Chinese enterprises - these sustained and malicious blockades and suppressive measures are blatant acts of bullying. This approach not only creates a more complex external environment for China's development in cutting-edge technological fields but also destabilizes the collaborative environment essential for human technological progress.

For China, none of this is unfamiliar. Last year, Foreign Policy published an article, noting that "In 1993 the Clinton administration tried to restrict China's access to satellite technology. Today, China has some 540 satellites in space (the actual number has exceeded 900) and is launching a competitor to Starlink … When America restricted China's access to its geospatial data system in 1999, China simply built its own parallel BeiDou Global Navigation Satellite System … In some measures, BeiDou is today better than GPS."

Faced with external sanctions and pressure, China has consistently demonstrated its ability to achieve technological breakthroughs and industrial upgrades through its own efforts. This was true in the past and will remain true in the future.

China's self-reliance and self-strengthening are the best responses to all forms of suppression and containment. Reports indicate that China has been one of the fastest-growing economies in terms of innovation over the past decade. China has not only enhanced capabilities in independently researching and developing advanced technologies, but has also focused on strategic investments and international cooperation aimed at the future. Last year, China's total R&D expenditure exceeded 3.3 trillion yuan, representing an increase of 8.4 percent compared to the previous year. An increasing number of multinational companies are choosing to establish R&D centers in China. British magazine The Economist has published analyses highlighting China's growing role as the "world's research-and-development laboratory," concluding that "first, sharpen your tools." The level of our independent research and development determines the level of openness from the outside world. This is a principle that China has grasped through long-term practice in technological development, and it also provides confidence for our technological progress from a strategic perspective.

The enormous market demand, the urgent need for large-scale industrial upgrading, the reserve of high-quality innovative talent, and a strong industrial foundation all enable China to transform continuous technological innovation into a potential force, making greater contributions to the development of the global economy and technology. In recent years, China's emerging technologies such as 5G, drones, lithium batteries, photovoltaic panels, and ultra-high voltage transmission have shone brightly on the international stage. China's technological development has never ceased to move forward. External pressures may have an impact, but they cannot hinder our ascent to the peak of independent innovation. It is precisely because of these tangible advancements that some insightful individuals in the West have called for Washington to abandon the so-called "whack-a-mole game."

Currently, there remains a significant gap between China and the world's advanced levels in high-tech fields, including high-end chips. However, China's determination to innovate and pursue development is as solid as a rock. It is important to note that China's technological self-reliance is not only related to the development rights of its over 1.4 billion people but also concerns its ability to provide higher-quality public goods to the world. Just as China shares electric vehicles, photovoltaic products, and 5G networks with people in the Europe, the US, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, its high-tech development, characterized by inclusivity and benefits for all, is welcomed and blessed in this era of globalization, and it is bound to achieve even greater successes.