China rejects U.S. accusation of forced technology transfers, IPR theft

The United States' accusations of China forcing technology transfers and stealing intellectual property rights (IPR) are disregarding historical facts and totally unacceptable, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday.

The integration of China's low-cost labor and international capital and technology has helped facilitate its rapid economic growth and global economic prosperity since the country's reform and opening-up drive, which also has generated rich returns for foreign firms, said MOC Spokesperson Gao Feng, adding that such partnerships are totally voluntary behaviors based on commercial contracts.

Gao Feng, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, at a press conference on July 12, 2018. [Photo: mofcom.gov.cn]

Foreign firms in China have reaped huge benefits, but the U.S. government has still accused China of forcing technology transfers and stealing IPR, which is distorting China's reform and opening-up and historical facts, as well as disrupting commercial credit and violating contract spirit, Gao said.

"Such practices are very dangerous and will shake the institutional foundation for the market economy and free enterprises," Gao added.

He also pointed out that the United States' accusation of China's industrial policies distorting the market is untenable.

All countries have the right of development and the right to make proper industrial policies to promote development, Gao said, adding that the United States also took specific industrial policies in the 1950s and 1960s.