China Says It Never Ordered Tech Firms to Reject U.S. Investment

China has denied issuing a blanket directive telling domestic technology companies to reject U.S. investment. At the same time, officials emphasized that foreign funding remains subject to Chinese laws and national‑security reviews—an important distinction that explains how Beijing can welcome global capital while still scrutinizing sensitive tech deals.

China’s Official Response to the Reports

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country’s top economic planning agency, responded directly to reports suggesting regulators had instructed companies to refuse U.S. capital.

According to the NDRC, the Chinese government has “never required” domestic technology firms to reject foreign investment. The statement was issued in response to questions about whether Beijing planned to ask Chinese companies to turn down funding from U.S. investors.

However, the spokesperson also clarified that foreign investment is not unrestricted. Any overseas funding must comply with China’s laws and regulations and, when relevant, must pass national‑security review procedures.

In other words, the government rejected the idea of a universal ban but reaffirmed that regulatory oversight still applies.

Why Earlier Reports Suggested Restrictions

The clarification came after media reports in April claimed Chinese regulators were moving to limit U.S. investment in certain technology companies.

According to those reports, regulators including the NDRC had instructed several private tech firms—particularly in advanced sectors such as artificial intelligence—to reject U.S. investment in funding rounds unless explicit government approval was obtained.

Companies reportedly affected included AI startups such as Moonshot AI and StepFun. Some reports also indicated that TikTok owner ByteDance faced similar restrictions involving secondary share sales to U.S. investors.

A later correction to one Reuters report clarified that regulators had “decided on” restrictions for ByteDance rather than directly instructing the company, highlighting the complexity of how such policies are implemented.

Taken together, these earlier reports suggested tighter oversight of U.S. capital entering strategic technology companies rather than a universal prohibition.

The Legal Framework Behind China’s Position

China’s response also aligns with its existing foreign‑investment regulatory system.

Under rules introduced in recent years, foreign investments that could affect national security must undergo a formal security review administered by authorities including the NDRC and the Ministry of Commerce. These measures allow regulators to examine investments in sectors considered sensitive or strategically important.

The framework means China can remain formally open to foreign capital while retaining the authority to review, restrict, or block deals involving technologies deemed critical to national interests.

The Broader U.S.–China Tech Investment Context

The issue is unfolding amid growing geopolitical competition between the United States and China over advanced technologies such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.

Both governments have introduced policies affecting cross‑border investment in these sectors. Washington has implemented export controls and restrictions on certain U.S. investments in Chinese technology companies, citing national‑security concerns. Meanwhile, China has increasingly emphasized security screening for foreign investment in sensitive industries.

Against that backdrop, Beijing’s message appears designed to reassure markets that foreign investment remains welcome—while preserving regulatory discretion over deals involving strategic technologies.

What the Clarification Actually Means

China’s position can be summarized in three key points:

• There is no blanket order requiring Chinese tech firms to reject U.S. investment.
• Some deals—especially in advanced technology sectors—may still require government approval or security screening.
• This approach reflects China’s broader policy of balancing openness to foreign capital with national‑security oversight of strategic industries.

For investors and technology companies, the practical implication is that cross‑border funding is still possible—but it may face closer regulatory scrutiny when it involves sensitive technologies or major strategic firms.