An American congressional delegation faced limited access to China’s leading technology companies during a recent visit, underscoring Beijing’s cautious stance on sharing information about its rapidly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) sector. The bipartisan delegation from the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission traveled to Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai in July—their first visit to China in seven years—aiming to gather insights to inform their annual report to Congress. The report analyzes China’s developments in military, economic, and technological fields.

During the trip, commission members engaged with Chinese government officials, think tank experts, diplomats, and business leaders across multiple sectors, including AI, advanced technology, biotechnology, economic security, and regional issues. However, several requests for meetings with some of China’s top tech companies, such as Huawei Technologies, Tencent, Baidu, DeepSeek, and Alibaba, were denied. Vice-Chairman Mike Kunis said the lack of access itself was a significant observation during the visit.

Analysts suggest that China’s decision reflects an increasingly strategic, state-controlled approach to AI diplomacy. Denis Simon, a China science and technology expert who has previously testified before the commission, noted that the body is viewed in Beijing more as a policy instrument than a neutral observer. The commission has published reports recommending tighter scrutiny of Chinese technology policies and AI development, contributing to Beijing’s wariness. Simon explained that, compared to a decade ago, China’s technology sector is now heavily integrated with national security policymaking, meaning access decisions are effectively determined by the state rather than individual corporations.

From a Washington perspective, analysts highlighted that Beijing appears more interested in direct dialogue with the executive branch, particularly under President Donald Trump’s administration, rather than congressional committees. David Zhang of Trivium China, a policy intelligence firm, suggested that Beijing sees limited benefits in engaging a congressional delegation that cannot influence export controls, a key area of tension.

The timing of the visit also complicated engagement, coinciding with heightened U.S. accusations against Chinese AI start-up Moonshot AI for alleged unauthorized use of U.S. AI models, alongside potential U.S. sanctions against certain Chinese AI laboratories. Analysts noted that Chinese firms would likely avoid discussions that could fuel further restrictions.

Despite these challenges, both countries continue to prepare for a new round of AI security talks expected in September. These discussions, anticipated to be led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, are part of broader efforts potentially paving the way for a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, though Beijing has not formally confirmed the talks.

While both governments acknowledge the necessity of establishing safeguards around increasingly powerful AI systems, mutual distrust has led to a narrowing of direct engagement channels. Scientific exchanges and university collaborations have declined, while export controls and investment screenings have tightened on both sides. Simon remarked that in the absence of direct institutional observation, intelligence assessments rely more heavily on indirect analysis, fostering a cautious, suspicious policy environment.

Observers emphasized that this recent sidelining of the congressional delegation does not signal an end to high-level dialogues. Rather, it reflects Beijing’s approach to compartmentalize leader-level diplomacy separate from interactions with legislative bodies. Analysts warned that upcoming U.S. sanctions against major Chinese AI companies could pose a more significant threat to the planned talks than the earlier snub.

The two nations also maintain differing priorities: Washington emphasizes export controls and security measures to protect advanced technology, while President Xi’s recent statements at the World AI Conference in Shanghai highlighted AI safety, governance, and sustained oversight. According to Kendra Schaefer, a technology policy expert at Trivium China, Xi’s message seeks to balance ambitious technological growth with security concerns and to position China as a responsible leader in AI, particularly among developing countries. She noted that China’s open-source AI tools offer a significant opportunity to expand its influence on the global AI landscape.