China condemns CIA economic espionage remarks

China condemned remarks by CIA deputy director Michael Ellis on Friday after he said US intelligence agencies needed to collect foreign intelligence linked to economic security and competition with Beijing.

Ellis told a cybersecurity conference on Tuesday that the United States was carrying out economic espionage operations to respond to what he called the Chinese “threat”. He said intelligence targets included strategic sectors such as semiconductors and biotech.

China's commerce ministry said Ellis's remarks showed “bandit logic” and accused the United States of declaring Chinese companies legitimate targets of espionage.

The ministry said China's advances in artificial intelligence or biotech “must never be treated as prey”. It accused Washington of a “Cold War mentality”, undermining fair competition and trampling on international trade norms.

The ministry threatened to take “necessary measures” to defend Chinese interests, without specifying what they would be.

The dispute comes less than two weeks before US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet at the White House on September 24, according to Washington. Artificial intelligence and trade are expected to be on the agenda.