Chinese tech giant criticizes US for 'politicizing business'

BEIJING (AP) — One of China’s biggest tech companies has criticized the Trump administration for “politicizing business” after it slapped export sanctions on 33 more Chinese enterprises and government entities.

The new measures announced Friday expanded a U.S. campaign against Chinese companies Washington says might be security threats or involved in human rights abuses. Beijing criticized curbs imposed earlier on tech giant Huawei and other Chinese companies but has yet to say whether it will retaliate.

The most prominent name on the latest blacklist is Qihoo 360, a major supplier of anti-virus software and a web browser. The decision to add the companies to the Commerce Department’s Entity List limits their access to U.S. components and technology by requiring government permission for exports.

Qihoo 360 “firmly opposes this irresponsible action and the U.S. Commerce Department’s practice of politicizing business and scientific and technological research and development,” the company said on its social media account.

Qihoo 360 and other companies didn’t immediately respond to questions Monday about which U.S. technologies they use and how the restrictions might affect their businesses. The Chinese government had no immediate comment.

China’s fledgling tech industries are developing processor chips, software, telecom hardware, electric car batteries and other products. But they still need U.S., European and Japanese components and other inputs for smartphones and other devices, as well as for manufacturing processes.

President Donald Trump's administration complains Chinese tech development is based at least in part on stealing foreign know-how. American officials say that might support spying or weapons development that might threaten the...