Tuesday's order escalated a conflict with Beijing over
technology, security, and spying accusations that has plunged US-Chinese
relations to their lowest level in decades. It followed confusion in financial
markets after the New York Stock Exchange announced last week it would remove
three Chinese phone companies and then withdrew that plan Monday.
“This is another example of the US's bullying, arbitrary,
and hegemonic behavior,” said a foreign ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying.
“This is an example of the United States over-generalising the concept of
national security and abusing its national power to unreasonably suppress
foreign companies.”
Beijing will take unspecified “necessary measures” to
protect Chinese companies, Hua said, repeating a government statement made
following previous US sanctions announcements. It rarely has been followed by
action.
Trump's order cites unspecified concerns about apps
collecting Americans' personal and financial data and turning it over to
China's communist government.
Hua ridiculed that argument, pointing to US government
intelligence gathering.
“This is like a gangster who wantonly steals but then
clamors to be protected from robbery,” Hua said. “How hypocritical and
ridiculous it is.”
Chinese smartphone apps face similar opposition in
neighbouring India, which has blocked dozens of them on security grounds amid a
military standoff over a disputed section of border between the two countries.
Trump in August issued orders banning dealings with the
popular Chinese-owned video app TikTok and the WeChat messaging app.
Those and this week's order take effect after
President-elect Joe Biden is due to be sworn in January 20, leaving open the
question of whether the government will go ahead with it.
A representative for Biden's office did not immediately
respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Alipay is part of the empire of billionaire Jack Ma, founder
of e-commerce giant Alibaba and financial platform Ant Group. WeChat Pay is
operated by rival tech giant Tencent. The others named in the order are
CamScanner, QQ Wallet, SHAREit, Tencent QQ, VMate and WPS Office.
The Trump administration also has imposed curbs on access to
US technology for Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei and some other
companies. A November order bans American investors from buying securities
issued by companies deemed to be linked to China's military.
US tech companies worry Beijing might retaliate by making it
more difficult to do business in the world's second-largest economy.
Political analysts expect Biden to try to resume cooperation
with Beijing on issues such as climate change and the coronavirus. But few
expect big changes due to widespread frustration with Beijing's trade and human
rights record and accusations of spying and technology theft.
Trump administration officials indicated they hadn't
consulted with the president-elect's team before the latest order.