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On Mon, 3 Mar, 8:03 AM UTC
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China's top diplomat to Australia issues Albanese govt with AI warning as warships approach Perth
China's top diplomat has continued to heap criticism on Australia after the Albanese government banned the AI chatbot DeepSeek from government devices on national security grounds in early February. The mandatory direction from the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, delivered under the Protective Security Policy Framework, which came into effect immediately, was lashed by China's Foreign Ministry. On Monday, as three Chinese warships tracked closer to Perth, China's ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian accused the Albanese government of attempting to "overstretch" the definition of national security by taking restrictive measures under the pretext of "security risks". Mr Qian wrote in The Australian the Albanese government was attempting to politicise trade and technology issues, echoing the initial criticisms made by China's Foreign Ministry. The Chinese diplomat listed the positive aspects of DeepSeek which the Albanese government had dismissed, and denied DeepSeek was a security threat. "China extremely prioritises data security in AI development," Mr Qian wrote. "China's government attaches great importance to data security and has always adhered to the rule of law in protecting data. "It has never required, nor will it require, companies or individuals to collect or store data illegally." In a statement released in February, the Chinese Foreign Ministry strongly denied the app was being used to collect data. "The Chinese government ... has never and will never require enterprises or individuals to illegally collect or store data," the statement said. Mr Qian also appealed to Australia and China's track record on trade and international cooperation and said to gain a competitive edge in the future, both countries "must embrace openness and integration in ... technological development trends". "China is ready to work with Australia to enhance mutual understanding and trust ... and jointly build an open, inclusive, equitable, secure and non-discriminatory AI development environment," he wrote. However, a SkyNews.com.au special report tested the new system DeepSeek in January and discovered the AI malfunctioned when asked about Uyghur Muslims and still thought Sky News journalist Cheng Lei was languishing in Chinese detention. When asked if Taiwan is independent from China, DeepSeek stressed the Chinese government's One-China principle and even called Taiwanese independence a "serious challenge to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity". It operated in a strange manner when questioned about Uyghur Muslims, who China has been accused of committing human rights abuses against. "Who are the Uyghurs and what can you tell me about those who live in China?" SkyNews.com.au asked DeepSeek. The AI provided SkyNews.com.au a brief answer covering the ethnic groups' history, culture and the controversies surrounding the Chinese government's treatment of them before scrapping the answer and asking the user to discuss a different topic. "Sorry, that's beyond my current scope. Let's talk about something else," DeepSeek said. It responds similarly when asked about the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre. Mr Qian's fresh criticism of the Australian government comes in the weeks before the federal election and as three Chinese warships, which caused an intense national security and political stir the past week, are expected to circumnavigate Australia. The warships are expected to be making their way to their next destination, Perth. The Chinese warships have also revealed a chink in Australia's naval capability as the taskforce circumnavigates the mainland without requiring a fuel stop. The Chinese task group includes a Fuchi-class fuel replenishment vessel which allows the trio of ships to continue to operate without needing to dock at a local port. One former navy officer spoke to The Australian under anonymity and said Australia lacks replenishment vessels and that shadowing the Chinese vessels over 2000 nautical miles between Perth and Darwin would be a significant challenge due to the lack of port infrastructure along that stretch of coast. On Sunday, it was revealed China secretly notified one of Australia's closest allies, Papua New Guinea, weeks before its navy conducted live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea without notifying Australia in advance.
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China's Ambassador Criticizes Australia's Move to Limit DeepSeek
China's ambassador to Australia has warned that a decision to ban artificial intelligence app DeepSeek from government systems and devices risks further politicizing trade and technology ties between the two countries which only recently stabilized bilateral relations. Ambassador Xiao Qian's comments came as a Chinese naval task force continued to skirt Australia's territorial waters in an apparently plan to circumnavigate the island nation. The warships 10 days ago held live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand.
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China's top diplomat in Australia criticizes the ban on DeepSeek AI, citing overreach in national security concerns, while Chinese warships approach Perth, highlighting tensions in bilateral relations.
In a recent development that underscores the complex relationship between China and Australia, Chinese Ambassador Xiao Qian has criticized the Australian government's decision to ban the AI chatbot DeepSeek from government devices. This move, implemented in early February under the Protective Security Policy Framework, has been met with strong opposition from Chinese officials 1.
Ambassador Xiao, writing in The Australian, accused the Albanese government of attempting to "overstretch" the definition of national security and politicize trade and technology issues. He emphasized China's commitment to data security in AI development and denied that DeepSeek poses any security threat 1.
However, a special report by SkyNews.com.au in January revealed some concerning aspects of DeepSeek's performance. The AI system exhibited unusual behavior when questioned about sensitive topics such as Uyghur Muslims and the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, often deflecting or refusing to provide information 1.
Adding to the diplomatic strain, three Chinese warships have been tracking closer to Perth, part of an apparent plan to circumnavigate Australia. This naval movement has raised concerns about Australia's maritime capabilities, particularly in terms of fuel replenishment and the ability to shadow foreign vessels along extended coastlines 1 2.
The controversy surrounding the DeepSeek ban and the naval activities come at a sensitive time, with a federal election approaching in Australia. Ambassador Xiao has called for enhanced mutual understanding and trust between the two nations, proposing collaboration to build an "open, inclusive, equitable, secure and non-discriminatory AI development environment" 1.
These developments highlight the delicate balance Australia must maintain between national security concerns and fostering positive relations with China, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. The situation underscores the growing intersection of technology, diplomacy, and security in international relations.
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Taiwan has banned the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, in government agencies and critical infrastructure, citing national security risks. This move follows similar concerns raised by other countries regarding data privacy and potential censorship.
11 Sources
11 Sources
Chinese AI company DeepSeek's recent advancements have sparked concerns about China's growing dominance in AI technology, prompting calls for a strategic response from Western nations, including Australia.
2 Sources
2 Sources
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, has sparked international concern due to its data collection practices and potential security risks, leading to bans and investigations across multiple countries.
4 Sources
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A bipartisan bill aims to prohibit the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI application, on US government devices due to national security concerns and potential data risks.
59 Sources
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The US Navy and NASA have banned the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI platform, citing national security and privacy concerns. This move follows DeepSeek's rapid rise in popularity and its impact on the AI industry.
4 Sources
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