US State Department Directs Global Diplomatic Campaign Against Chinese AI Firms Over Alleged Intellectual Property Theft

Apr 25, 2026, 10:03

Introduction

The United States Department of State has sent a diplomatic message ordering a global effort to make known the alleged theft of intellectual property by Chinese artificial intelligence companies, including DeepSeek, through a process called model distillation. The message, dated April 24, instructs diplomats to inform foreign officials about the risks of using AI models that come from US proprietary systems and to prepare for future US government actions.

Main Body

The message defines distillation as a technique where smaller AI models are trained using outputs from larger, more expensive models, which reduces training costs. It asserts that unauthorized distillation campaigns allow foreign actors to release products that appear to perform similarly on certain tests at a lower cost, but do not match the full performance of the original system. Furthermore, the message claims that such campaigns intentionally remove security measures and mechanisms designed to ensure neutrality and truth-seeking in AI models. The message specifically names Chinese AI firms DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, and MiniMax. DeepSeek recently launched a preview of a new model adapted for Huawei chip technology, which highlights China's growing self-sufficiency in the AI sector. The White House has made similar accusations, which the Chinese Embassy in Washington described as baseless, repeating that Beijing takes intellectual property protection very seriously. Neither the State Department, DeepSeek, nor the Chinese Embassy responded immediately to requests for comment. The document, sent to diplomatic and consular posts worldwide, instructs staff to discuss concerns about adversaries' extraction and distillation of US AI models. A separate request and message have been sent to Beijing for direct talks with Chinese authorities. This message follows a warning from OpenAI to US lawmakers in February that DeepSeek was targeting US AI labs to copy models for its own training. The message was issued weeks before President Donald Trump's planned visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. According to the source, this timing is expected to increase the long-term technological competition between the two nations, which had seen a temporary reduction in tensions after an improvement in relations arranged in October of the previous year.

Conclusion

The US State Department's global diplomatic effort shows the administration's increased focus on protecting US AI intellectual property from alleged Chinese distillation practices. The situation remains characterized by conflicting views, with US authorities claiming widespread IP theft and Chinese officials denying the allegations and stating their commitment to IP protection.

Vocabulary Learning

alleged (adj.)
claimed to be true but not proven / 聲稱的；涉嫌的
Example:The United States Department of State has sent a diplomatic message ordering a global effort to make known the alleged theft of intellectual property by Chinese artificial intelligence companies.
asserts (v.)
states something forcefully as true / 斷言；聲稱
Example:It asserts that unauthorized distillation campaigns allow foreign actors to release products that appear to perform similarly on certain tests at a lower cost.
distillation (n.)
the process of extracting or concentrating something, here a technique to train AI models using outputs of larger models / 蒸餾；提煉
Example:The message defines distillation as a technique where smaller AI models are trained using outputs from larger, more expensive models, which reduces training costs.
proprietary (adj.)
owned or controlled by a particular company, not freely available / 專有的；專利的
Example:The message instructs diplomats to inform foreign officials about the risks of using AI models that come from US proprietary systems.
unauthorized (adj.)
not officially allowed or approved / 未經授權的；未批准的
Example:It asserts that unauthorized distillation campaigns allow foreign actors to release products that appear to perform similarly on certain tests at a lower cost.

Sentence Learning

The message, dated April 24, instructs diplomats to inform foreign officials about the risks of using AI models that come from US proprietary systems and to prepare for future US government actions.
Relative clause with 'that' The clause 'that come from US proprietary systems' defines which AI models are risky. It helps specify the exact type of models.關係從句用 'that' 'that come from US proprietary systems' 這個從句說明了哪些AI模型有風險，有助於具體指明模型類型。
The message defines distillation as a technique where smaller AI models are trained using outputs from larger, more expensive models, which reduces training costs.
Relative clause with 'which' The non-defining relative clause 'which reduces training costs' adds extra information about the result of the technique. It connects the action to its consequence.非限定性關係從句用 'which' 'which reduces training costs' 這個非限定性關係從句補充說明了該技術的結果，將動作與其後果聯繫起來。
Furthermore, the message claims that such campaigns intentionally remove security measures and mechanisms designed to ensure neutrality and truth-seeking in AI models.
Passive voice with past participle 'designed to ensure neutrality' is a reduced passive relative clause (which were designed). It concisely describes the purpose of the measures.被動語態用過去分詞 'designed to ensure neutrality' 是簡化了的被動關係從句 (which were designed)，簡潔地描述了這些措施的目的。
The White House has made similar accusations, which the Chinese Embassy in Washington described as baseless, repeating that Beijing takes intellectual property protection very seriously.
Relative clause with 'which' + linking word 'repeating' The clause 'which the Chinese Embassy... described as baseless' provides contrast. The present participle 'repeating' adds a simultaneous action, showing the embassy's stance.關係從句用 'which' + 連接詞 'repeating' 'which the Chinese Embassy... described as baseless' 這個從句提供了對比。現在分詞 'repeating' 補充了同時發生的動作，顯示了大使館的立場。
According to the source, this timing is expected to increase the long-term technological competition between the two nations, which had seen a temporary reduction in tensions after an improvement in relations arranged in October of the previous year.
Relative clause with 'which' + passive voice 'arranged' The non-defining relative clause 'which had seen...' gives background context. 'arranged in October' is a reduced passive clause describing the improvement. This structure organizes complex time relationships.關係從句用 'which' + 被動語態 'arranged' 非限定性關係從句 'which had seen...' 提供了背景信息。'arranged in October' 是簡化被動從句，描述了關係改善的具體時間。這種結構組織了複雜的時間關係。