Chinese companies claim to offer cost-effective, reliable products, and argue that U.S. restrictions hinder trust and cooperation between the two nations.

This move is driven by increasing concerns over the security of undersea cables, which carry about 99% of international internet traffic, and recent hacking operations linked to China, such as the Salt Typhoon cyberattack.

China condemns the U.S. restrictions as unreasonable and politicized, asserting they threaten international cooperation and the development of undersea cable infrastructure.

Previous efforts to exclude Chinese technology from U.S. networks include bans on Huawei and ZTE equipment, but challenges persist due to their market presence.

Since 2020, U.S. regulators have canceled four planned submarine cables linking the U.S. with Hong Kong over security concerns, reflecting heightened scrutiny of Chinese access to critical networks.

The tensions between the U.S. and China over technology and security are part of a broader digital rivalry, often described as a new digital Cold War.

The new regulations align with past actions aimed at preventing Chinese data interception and sabotage, especially amid reports of Chinese vessels near cable routes.

The FCC announced plans to ban Chinese technology from U.S. submarine cables to enhance infrastructure security and counter foreign threats, especially amid recent incidents of cable damage and accusations against Chinese ships.

Chinese officials, including Zhou, criticize these restrictions as unjustified suppression that hampers technological progress and economic growth, advocating for cooperation and fairness.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr emphasized that foreign adversaries pose growing risks to underwater cable infrastructure, prompting the U.S. to implement stricter regulations.

Despite Huawei selling its subsidiary HMN Tech, the U.S. remains wary of Chinese companies' ties to espionage, which China denies, and previous bans on firms like Huawei and ZTE reflect ongoing efforts to limit Chinese influence.

In response, China calls for rational cooperation and emphasizes the importance of mutual trust, criticizing U.S. actions as politicized and harmful to global digital connectivity.

The U.S. also cites cybersecurity threats, such as the Salt Typhoon hacking group, as justification for stricter controls over undersea cables to prevent espionage.