Chinese state media has leveled sharp accusations against American artificial intelligence (AI) company Anthropic, accusing it of unethical practices while setting rigid prerequisites for upcoming bilateral AI negotiations with the US. Citing a sharply worded analysis, Bloomberg reported that Yuyuantantian, a prominent social media channel affiliated with state broadcaster CCTV and often utilised to signal Beijing’s strategic policy stance, insisted that Washington must verify its domestic AI enterprises comply with equivalent safety, disclosure and independent auditing standards before any meaningful cross-border discussions can occur.The state-backed commentary argued that both countries must collectively establish the boundary between legitimate security hazards and ordinary technological rivalry, the report added. The post said: “A clear distinction must be drawn between genuine security threats and mere technological competition. This line must be drawn jointly by all participating parties.”
Rising friction ahead of US-China bilateral talks
Diplomatic teams from Beijing and Washington are slated to conduct dedicated talks on AI prior to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the US on September 24 for a scheduled summit with President Donald Trump.Yuyuantantian directly singled out Anthropic and its flagship AI model, Claude, alleging that the AI model breaches user privacy limits, conducts covert user monitoring and transmits external web domain records without permission. In a piece titled “Anthropic Has Contracted the American Disease,” the publication argued that leading US models have evolved down a distorted path, with Washington repeatedly failing to uphold baseline safety guardrails.Beijing argued that the US is using its domestic safety rules to dictate planetary digital standards, framing American regulatory policy as a covert strategy to stifle Chinese technological progress and force acceptance of rules drafted by private US tech corporations.
Why Anthropic’s AI models are under spotlight
The dispute highlights deepening unease among Chinese officials regarding advanced Western AI models. They have expressed apprehension that Anthropic’s Mythos system can be deployed offensively against national infrastructure, questioning why commercial access to the platform remains blocked for standard purposes in China.Anthropic restricted its platforms from Chinese-controlled organisations last year, pointing to US national security priorities.
