In January 2025, Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek released a chatbot that rocked the artificial intelligence market with its efficiency and capability, leading to a $593 billion loss in value for the American technology company Nvidia in a single day, the largest one-day loss for any company on Wall Street.[1]
In the aftermath, Chinese tech companies, commentators, professors, and the public have been celebrating what they view as a Chinese victory over American artificial intelligence capabilities. At a recent Provincial High-Quality Development Conference in China, Huang Kunming, the Chinese Comunist Party (CCP) Guangdong Party Secretary, made notable remarks about DeepSeek, the Chinese AI app that has shaken Silicon Valley and Wall Street over the past month. He stated: "DeepSeek, with the courage and vigor of one who fears not the tiger, is shaking up the American AI giants and creating ripple effects. Our country has already shown new signs of leading the trends of the era. Guangdong should especially strive to take the lead among the many fierce competitors. We must take proactive action, comprehensively optimize and upgrade our industrial system, break free from the mid-to-low-end sectors, seize strategic high ground, and secure victory in emerging fields."
A Chinese-language article reporting on Kunming's comments said: "It is clear that the Chinese government sees DeepSeek as a direct challenger to leading U.S. AI platforms. More importantly, Beijing encourages its tech sector to emulate DeepSeek's perceived success as part of a broader effort to transition away from low-value manufacturing and position China as a peer competitor to the United States in cutting-edge industries. China has long employed a 'whole-of-society approach' in its competition with the U.S. – a comprehensive national strategy that integrates government, military, industry, academia, and civilians to advance its geopolitical, economic, and technological ambitions. This approach is deeply rooted in Military-Civil Fusion (MCF), state-controlled economic policies, and ideological mobilization, ensuring that China's long-term strategic goals remain aligned across all sectors. This systemic strategy poses a persistent challenge to the U.S., necessitating a multi-faceted response encompassing economic, military, and ideological countermeasures. However, Washington has often been caught off guard by Beijing's rapid advancements – the rise of DeepSeek is just the latest example."[2]
The following are a selection of exclusive content from the MEMRI Chinese Media Studies Project showing commentators in China celebrating the release of DeepSeek and analyzing its implications for the Chinese-American technology competition.
Huang Kunming, CCP Guangdong Party Secretary Praises Deepseek: 'With The Courage And Vigor Of One Who Fears Not The Tiger, Deepseek Is Shaking Up The American AI Giants'
At a recent Provincial High-Quality Development Conference in China, Huang Kunming, the CCP Guangdong Party Secretary, discussed DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence app that has shaken Silicon Valley and Wall Street over the past month. He stated: "DeepSeek, with the courage and vigor of one who fears not the tiger, is shaking up the American AI giants and creating ripple effects." He called upon Guangdong province to take a leadership position in technological development efforts. Video of the event was uploaded to Kuaishou Chinese video platform on February 5, 2025.
Click here or below to view the clip of CCP Guangdong Party Secretary Huang Kunming.
"We must take proactive actions, comprehensively optimize and upgrade our industrial system, break free from the mid-to-low-end sector, seize strategic high ground, and secure victory in emerging fields."
Chinese Commentator Da Liu: DeepSeek Is Attacking The Core Of America's Technological Hegemony
In a video posted on Haokan Videos on January 28, 2025, Chinese commentator Da Liu claims that DeepSeek is not merely a technological achievement, but that it signals the decline of U.S. technological supremacy. According to Liu, even smaller nations, such as Cuba and Ethiopia, could potentially craft competitive AI systems, effectively dismantling the long-held belief that only superpowers are capable of leading in artificial intelligence. Moreover, DeepSeek’s reliance on domestically produced Ascend chips clearly shows, according to Liu, that the trajectory of AI progress has decisively shifted away from American technological infrastructures, directly challenging the hegemony of established giants like NVIDIA and Intel.
Da Liu warns that if America loses its technological edge, the cascading effects on its military and financial dominance will be unavoidable. For decades, the U.S. has sustained its global supremacy through a blend of military prowess, technological innovation, and the dominance of the dollar. Yet as China rapidly rolls out advanced fighter jets and other military technologies, the global community is increasingly questioning America’s capacity to influence China or participate in significant conflicts without Chinese acquiescence.
Da Liu concludes by stating that America's longstanding global dominance, deeply rooted in its technological superiority since World War II, is now under direct assault from initiatives like DeepSeek. As this foundational pillar of American hegemony begins to fracture, the implications for global power dynamics are both profound and unsettling.
Click here or below to view the clip of Chinese commentator Da Liu.
Da Liu: "The foundation of the United States has already been shaken. DeepSeek is just a product. If we see it as a mere product, we won't grasp its fundamental significance. We should view it as a phenomenon, a trend. Throughout history, the U.S. has always been the leader in cutting-edge technology, with significant technological advancements first emerging in America, and then China developing and expanding upon them, making them bigger and better, until eventually surpassing the U.S. For example, the maiden flight of China's 6th generation fighter jet... DeepSeek is similar. Artificial intelligence first emerged in the United States, and has always been led by the U.S. until the emergence of DeepSeek, which caused panic and shock among Americans.
"However, DeepSeek is not entirely like that. It has pioneered a new direction for overtaking [the U.S.] in AI. We can achieve the same results with $5.5 million that would cost you $1 billion. What method did we use? Not brute-force computing power. While computing power is important, algorithms rely only on your brain, not on your country's strength. DeepSeek's emergence has given new hope to many more people. Theoretically speaking, countries like Cuba, Ethiopia, and North Korea could also develop their own AI. As long as they have this human capability, the greatest obstacle is no longer there.
"For hardware, even if I rely on smuggling, I could still put together a server with thousands of H100s if I wanted to. So now that DeepSeek is open source – copy it, use it freely, and take inspiration from it. I hope the world can collectively push forward and create more DeepSeek-like innovations, exploring AI pathways that do not rely solely on computing power. That is why NVIDIA's stock has collapsed. However, let's clarify one point. Humanity's demand for computing power is endless. The rise of DeepSeek does not mean that computing power will become less important. That is incorrect. It's like when we built the Three Gorges Dam – people said that once it was completed, China would never lack electricity, and the price of electricity would drop to 0.08 yuan. But what happened? No amount of electricity is ever enough. AI is the same – no amount of computing power will ever be sufficient.
"However – and I have to say 'however' again – it doesn’t necessarily have to be NVIDIA, and nor does it have to be American chips. Chinese chips can work too. After all, doesn't DeepSeek use Chinese Ascend chips? Have you all noticed? The real impact of DeepSeek's open source lies right here. The future of artificial intelligence doesn't necessarily have to be exclusive to major powers. In ten or twenty years, the scenario that might unfold could be like 'the swallows that once nested in the halls of nobles now fly into common households.' By then, America's technological hegemony will have completely collapsed. Its military hegemony has already been shaken by the rapid unveiling of China's new military equipment in recent months. More and more countries and people around the world no longer believe that the U.S. can use force to threaten China. Nor do they believe that the U.S. dares to launch a medium-scale war anywhere in the world without China's consent.
"Now, America's military dominance has cracked, and its technological supremacy is being torn apart by DeepSeek. That leaves only one thing: financial hegemony, and specifically, dollar dominance. But we all know that financial and dollar hegemony are not castles in the sky. They have foundations. Its two foundations are military hegemony and technological hegemony. If these two foundations disappear, the U.S. dollar will collapse overnight. In reality, military dominance is not independent either. It also has a foundation, which is technological hegemony. Without leading technology, there is no military dominance. Looking at it this way, all of America's forms of hegemony ultimately trace back to one thing: the technological hegemony that has led the world since World War II. DeepSeek is attacking the core of America's technological hegemony – the very foundation of its survival. That is the true significance of DeepSeek."
Chinese Commentator Chen Ping: Through DeepSeek, I See The Future Of Socialism; Chinese Artificial Intelligence Must Uphold Socialism
In a February 8, 2025 video discussing the Chinese artificial app DeepSeek, Chinese commentator Chen Ping presents a socialist vision for integrating artificial intelligence and big data into China’s socialist system to optimize resource distribution. He argues that rather than exporting surplus goods to subsidize American consumption, China should use its technological capabilities to redistribute these resources domestically. Ping stated that by prioritizing the development of rural areas and small and medium-sized cities, as well as reforming unsustainable urban lifestyles, China can enhance its national livelihood while addressing financial concerns such as inflation.
He further suggests that this AI-driven socialist model could have global implications. Through initiatives like the Belt and Road and the "Community of Shared Future for Mankind," China could share its experiences with other nations, offering an alternative approach to economic development. This framework, he believes, would allow both ordinary citizens and elites worldwide to voluntarily learn from China’s resource management strategies and socialist governance.
Chen Ping is a well-known online commentator primarily active on social media. In his early years, he studied in the Department of Physics at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and later received a government-sponsored opportunity to study abroad. He has served as a senior researcher at a Chinese research institute and has taught at prestigious universities such as Peking University and Fudan University. Chen Ping created several social media accounts, where he publishes international commentary videos, criticizing the cultural, political, and economic systems of the United States while praising certain aspects of China. His views are highly opinionated, drawing a substantial audience.
Chen Ping’s real-life activities have sparked controversy. It was discovered online that he resides in the United States and exposed his American villa on social media. Many Chinese and American viewers find this hypocritical.
Click here or below to view the clip of Chinese commentator Chen Ping.
Chen Ping: "I believe that artificial intelligence combined with big data can be utilized under the socialist system to issue various personalized vouchers to individuals based on big data distribution. The surplus of mass-produced materials and resources that are overproduced in one region may still be in short supply in another. Instead of selling to the United States and subsidizing American consumption, wouldn't it be better to adapt to China's domestic livelihood, develop new rural areas and small to medium-sized cities, and reform undesirable urban lifestyles? This would enable the effective utilization of national resources and prevent the inflation concerns that currently trouble the domestic financial sector. Such an approach would not only cater to the needs of people in different regions of China but could also be extended globally to benefit the working class in various parts of the world. Then China's Belt and Road Initiative and Community of Shared Future for Mankind can spread the successful experiences under China's socialist system, allowing people and elites from various countries to voluntarily learn from the Chinese model and Chinese wisdom."
Chinese Professor Shen Yi's Bold Vision And Its Global Implications: DeepSeek, The Digital Silk Road, And China's AI Gambit
Chinese professor and social media influencer Shen Yi recently made waves by declaring that China's DeepSeek AI has shattered Western dominance in artificial intelligence and could revolutionize global AI development through the Belt and Road Initiative's Digital Silk Road. He envisions a world where developing nations can leverage China's open-source AI models and indigenous chip manufacturing to bypass American technological restrictions.
In a video posted on Bilibili on February 4, 2025, Shen frames DeepSeek as a liberating force, offering countries an alternative to Silicon Valley's control over AI infrastructure.
Click here or below to view the clip of Chinese professor Shen Yi.
Shen Yi: "This thing [DeepSeek] has completely shattered the so-called 'Western superiority' ideology that Silicon Valley elites have been pushing in artificial intelligence. It has directly broken through laterally, because they have absolutely no way to counter it. And what's the most critical part? DeepSeek has gone open source."
Interviewer: "Yes."
Shen: "DeepSeek has gone open source. Let me put it bluntly: Have you ever considered the combination of DeepSeek and the Belt and Road Initiative?"
Interviewer: "Oh, this just got big..."
Shen: "The Chinese government's Belt and Road Digital Silk Road initiative could support all participating countries in developing and using their own autonomous... Didn't you call it 'sovereign AI'? That wasn't my term, that was Jensen Huang's, not mine. Because whenever China coins a new term, it's accused of stirring up trouble, right? But they, you said it. Now I'm here to help you realize it. How? China will law the critical infrastructure for you. DeepSeek is open-source software – if you prefer buying Chinese chips, go ahead. If you want American chips, that's fine too. We provide the methods, and we collaborate on applications. So, are you in or not?"
Interviewer: "Definitely in with this."
Shen: "After you play hardball, let me tell you – DeepSeek can run on the Tier-2 chips that the U.S. has restricted from export to China. It can also run on domestically produced Chinese chips. And if you use Chinese-made chips, you won't be bound by America's AI chip export restrictions. You know that the AI 3-tier system they set up – Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3? Most Belt and Road countries fall under Tier 2. But with China's chips, you won't be subject to those dollar-amount chip restrictions, and you also don't need to worry that all the money you earn from GDP over the next 20-30 years will do towards feeding this electricity-hungry monster. Are you going to work with China or not?"
Interviewer: "They are going to."
Shen: "I won't even say much – this is the game we're playing. What do you have to counter it? That's why The Economist made that statement about 'democratization of information technology.' But they have no idea what that truly means. As soon as the Chinese government steps in, the entire artificial intelligence landscape in the context of great power strategic competition will undergo a disruptive transformation.
"Moreover, this will set an example – an example for what? That all the brilliant minds in the world, particularly those from developing countries, should learn from China's approach: elevate the intelligence and wisdom of their own people, use open-source models, optimize algorithms and LLMs, and build your own AI in a way that isn't solely dependent on piling up computing power and energy consumption. Even without the Chinese government stepping in, just the spread of this idea within specific global circles already has revolutionary and landmark significance."
Chinese Professor And Social Media Influencer Shen Yi: DeepSeek Combined With Huawei Will Form A Completely Closed Ecosystem Loop
Chinese professor and social media influencer Shen Yi recently heralded DeepSeek as a milestone in China's strategic rivalry with the U.S., advocating for pioneering independent innovation. Speaking on a video posted to Bilibili on February 3, 2025, he praised the integration of DeepSeek with Huawei Cloud and Ascend chips as creating a competitive closed-loop ecosystem.
Shen Yi is a professor in the Department of International Politics at Fudan University, where he also directs the Research Center for International Governance of Cyberspace. His research spans media, diplomacy, information technology, international security, and major power relations. A prominent commentator with over five million online followers, Shen holds a Ph.D. from Fudan University and has had visiting positions at the University of Hong Kong and Georgetown University.
Click here or below to view the clip of Chinese media influencer Shen Yi
Shen Yi: "This represents the current real state of the strategic competition between China and the United States. So in this situation, what should China do? We should handle different matters separately. On one hand, regarding our main focus, we must continue to steadily advance the application of truly independent innovation as represented by DeepSeek, across various vertical application fields. We need to progressively advance our own cloud infrastructure that supports DeepSeek, our digital foundation, and our own chips. Our industrial ecosystem – the Ascend chips, Huawei Cloud, combined with DeepSeek – this forms a complete ecosystem, achieving a closed loop. This system can then be promoted globally through various services."
Iranian Student In China: Deepseek Has Shaken The U.S., Even Those Asleep In The Western Media's 'Information Cocoon' Will Eventually Realize China Will Rule The Future World
In a recent post, "Liang Liang", an Iranian Student studying in China, celebrated the emergence of DeepSeek AI, claiming it had "shaken the United States," catching industry professionals, the stock market, and even President Donald Trump off guard. She further amplified the idea that the world is awakening to China's inevitable dominance, dismissing skeptics as victims of "Western media cocoons." Her message aligns closely with Beijing's state-sponsored rhetoric, which presents China's technological advancements as an existential challenge to the West while positioning China as the rightful global leader.
Liang, describes herself as a "small rivet on the bridge of China-Iran friendship." She is a graduate of the Confucius Institute in Tehran and is currently a student at Fudan University.
Click here or below to view the clip of Liang Liang.
Liang: "DeepSeek has truly shaken the United States.
"From American industry professionals to President Trump, and even the U.S. stock market – all have been caught off guard. Many Persian-language media outlets have also been extensively covering how DeepSeek has shocked the U.S. tech industry in recent days. The comment section, in my opinion, reflects the overall Iranian perspective on China – some positive, and some negative. One particular comment stands out as highly representative. I'll read it word for word: 'Some people are now saying that Chinese products are useless, but when they awaken from their dreams, they will realize that China has already conquered the world.'
"At present, Iranian views on China are mainly divided into two camps. One group keenly senses the shifts in the global landscape, turning their attention to China, observing its development and progress, and naturally concluding that China will lead the future world. The other group remains asleep in the cocoon created by Western media, with their perception of China stuck decades in the past. However, even these sleepers will one day awaken from their dreams, because the entire world continues to be astonished by China, time and time again."
