President Joe Biden and his administration have often been viewed as weak on China, with the communist nation easily being America's greatest adversary, on all fronts, moving into the future.
According to Breitbart, the Biden administration made a somewhat surprising move this week in issuing an executive order that bans new American investments in China in a narrow range of technological areas, including quantum computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and other tech-related sectors.
The order does not, however, address any existing investments in those areas, of which there are many, to say the least.
The executive order elicited lukewarm responses from those who believe America should do more to protect its tech supply chain.
Biden's executive order covers a narrow set of emerging technologies, and it would prohibit new investments into those areas in China. The administration admitted that the order was "narrow in scope."
Breitbart noted:
The order covers advanced computer chips, micro electronics, quantum information technologies and artificial intelligence. Senior administration officials said that the effort stemmed from national security goals rather than economic interests, and that the categories it covered were intentionally narrow in scope.
The move is reportedly aimed at stunting the communist nation's ability to bolster its own military advancement using funds from U.S. firms and investors.
Biden executive order restricting US investments in China 'very narrow': Jonathan D.T. Ward pic.twitter.com/7KeyHun9YW
— Mornings with Maria (@MorningsMaria) August 10, 2023
Breitbart added:
Biden has suggested that China’s economy is struggling and its global ambitions have been tempered as the U.S. has reenergized its alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia and the European Union. The administration consulted with allies and industry in shaping the executive order.
President Joe Biden signed an executive order that will prohibit some new US investment in China in sensitive technologies like computer chips and require government notification in other tech sectors https://t.co/zZ2AFSkJj1 pic.twitter.com/j8Cj48tyRl
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 10, 2023
The executive order received mixed reactions across social media, with some saying that it's a step in the right direction, and others doubting the true intentions of the president, who has been criticized as being weak on China overall.
"Good. I personally don’t like Biden, but this is good. China is playing the slow game. Putting spies in our military, putting malware in our computer systems that control infrastructure," one X user wrote.
Another X user wrote, "Also the restrictions started next year not now! He is a CCP’s puppet for sure!"
Only time will tell if the investment restrictions make a difference. Many say it might not as China and some U.S. firms find workaround "investment vehicles."
