China's AI chip push arms Xi with message for Trump: 'You can't choke us off'

Chinese President Xi Jinping has begun his US state visit with a boost in confidence from a series of new AI chip and model launches, potentially influencing Washington's decisions on further tightening technology export controls. The recent releases from national champions like Huawei and Alibaba strengthen Beijing's case that US technology restrictions can slow, but not stop, China's AI development. "For Xi, the leverage is not 'we have caught up with you,' but 'you can't simply technologically choke us off,'" stated Lizzi Lee, a fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute. The US has for years restricted China's access to Nvidia's most advanced AI chips and manufacturing equipment. Huawei has accelerated the launch of its next AI chip, and Alibaba has unveiled what it calls the country's most powerful AI processor. DeepSeek, a startup focused on more cost-effective models, has reportedly assembled the largest known cluster of Huawei chips to date. "Xi's confidence level in terms of China's technology and innovation is at a historic high," said George Chen, partner at The Asia Group. He described the timing of the launches as a deliberate demonstration of confidence before the leaders' summit. Despite these advancements, experts like Chris Miller from Tufts University point out that US models still lead in technical benchmarks and profitability. While China's AI industry shows signs of acceleration, its dependence on US technology for the most advanced chips persists.