DeepSeek and MiniMax Complete AI Tech Export Registration for Overseas Licensing

Among these, the AI sector encompasses 23 technologies related to large models, agents, computing clusters, and information processing. Technologies that have already entered the public domain through open-source releases or academic publications are excluded from regulatory scope.

Last night (the 22nd), Yuyuan Tantian, a new media account under China Media Group, revealed in a post that since the policy was announced, leading companies DeepSeek and MiniMax have successfully completed registration procedures and finalized open-source releases and overseas licensing authorizations.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce previously answered reporters' questions on this issue. IT Home has compiled the original text from the Ministry of Commerce as follows:

Q: What are the main considerations behind the proposed addition of AI technologies?

A: Currently, global innovation in artificial intelligence technology has entered an unprecedentedly active period, characterized by both opportunities and challenges. The proposal to add 23 key technologies related to large AI models, agents, computing clusters, and information processing to the Catalog is driven by the following considerations:

First, ensuring the safety and controllability of AI technology. Various endogenous and derivative risks posed by AI have attracted high attention from countries worldwide. The AI-driven malicious code generation and mutation technologies proposed for regulation could be used to attack sensitive systems such as national critical information infrastructure, defense industries, and core government affairs, or to bypass national security defense systems. If acquired by non-state actors or malicious entities, they could pose threats to national security and common human security. The Chinese government implements necessary management of such technologies to establish a solid security baseline, prevent misuse and abuse, ensure that AI remains under human control, and promote international governance of AI.

Second, encouraging open source, openness, cooperation, and sharing. The Chinese government is committed to making AI a significant driver for promoting common prosperity and maintaining common security. To support the construction of an open-source innovation ecosystem for AI, facilitation measures such as automatic licensing apply to technology exports involving scenarios like open-sourcing AI technologies, Chinese enterprises building and operating their own computing centers overseas, conducting chip tape-out and manufacturing abroad, carrying out joint R&D using overseas resources, and participating in international standard-setting. This essentially achieves "report-and-export" convenience. Relevant technologies that have already entered the public domain through open-source releases or academic publications are proposed to be excluded from export control scope, creating a favorable environment for international exchange and cooperation in AI technology.

It should be specifically noted that China advocates conducting dialogue and cooperation with all countries on AI based on mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, jointly addressing the risks of AI technology proliferation and loss of control. China supports Global South countries in strengthening AI capacity building, bridging the digital-intelligence divide, and promoting sustainable development. Greater facilitation and support will be provided for technology exports required for international cooperation on capacity building, technology sharing, and rule co-creation among members of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization.

Q: After the formal implementation of the Catalog, do various "going global" forms of AI large models—such as localized deployment overseas or providing model invocation services to foreign entities—fall within the scope of technology export controls?

A: Currently, there are diverse "going global" models for AI large models and application products. Determining whether a specific "going global" scenario falls within the scope of technology export controls hinges primarily on whether it involves the transfer of restricted technologies from within China to outside its borders.

The scope of AI technologies included in this regulatory update is precise and limited. After the relevant measures are formally implemented, the vast majority of AI technologies will remain free to export. For AI technologies classified as restricted, conducting localized deployment overseas falls within the scope of technology export controls; however, if deployed in relatively low-risk environments such as self-owned clouds overseas, facilitation measures like automatic licensing may apply. Scenarios where enterprises use restricted large models to provide external API calls, APP/web interactions, SaaS applications, or lightweight local edge deployments do not fall within the scope of large model technology export controls.