China Approves DeepSeek and MiniMax AI Models for Global Use Amid Proposed Export Controls

China has approved AI developers DeepSeek and MiniMax to make their artificial intelligence models available globally, according to a social media account affiliated with state broadcaster CCTV, highlighting Beijing's effort to expand the international reach of its AI industry while tightening oversight of technologies considered sensitive to national security.

A post published on Thursday by the account said the two companies had received state approval for global use of their models. In a separate post on Friday, the account, Yuyuan Tantian, said overseas internet users had called on other Chinese developers of open-source large language models to follow suit.

The reported approvals come as China moves to establish clearer controls over the overseas deployment of advanced AI technology. On October 16, Beijing proposed export controls covering 23 AI technologies, including technologies related to AI models, agents and computing clusters.

The measures signal that China intends to balance the international expansion of its AI industry with restrictions on transferring capabilities it considers strategically sensitive. For Chinese developers seeking overseas customers, regulatory approval could become an important factor in determining where and how their models can be deployed.

China's commerce ministry said when the proposed controls were announced that most AI technologies would remain eligible for export. The ministry also indicated that licensing procedures would be simplified for exports of open-source technologies and for Chinese companies operating their own computing centers overseas.

The proposed restrictions nevertheless cover the overseas deployment of AI models that contain restricted technology. This creates a distinction between the broad availability of Chinese AI products and the transfer or use of capabilities that Beijing wants to keep under closer supervision.

This distinction is essential given the several forms international AI deployment can take. Developers may release model weights for external use, provide access through online services, license technology to foreign businesses or operate computing infrastructure outside China. The regulatory treatment of these arrangements may differ depending on the technology involved and the applicable export requirements.

For developers, greater clarity over which models and deployment arrangements are approved could reduce uncertainty when pursuing overseas business. However, the reported approvals for DeepSeek and MiniMax do not, by themselves, establish that every model, service or technology offered by either company is exempt from the proposed controls.

The status of the measures is also important. The source describes the October 16 announcement as a proposal, rather than a fully implemented export-control regime. The precise scope of the rules, their licensing requirements, and how they will be applied could therefore determine the practical effect on Chinese AI companies.

Beijing's approach comes amid intensifying technological competition with Washington. Both countries are seeking to develop advanced AI capabilities while limiting access to technologies they regard as important to economic and national security. China's proposed controls are its latest effort to regulate the transfer of AI tools and infrastructure that officials consider sensitive.

Global Expansion Offers Opportunities for Chinese AI Developers

The reported approvals could support efforts by DeepSeek and MiniMax to broaden their international presence, particularly among developers and businesses interested in open-source AI models.

Open-source and open-weight systems can allow customers to run models on their own infrastructure, adapt them for specific applications, and reduce dependence on a single commercial provider. For businesses, that flexibility can be attractive where data control, deployment costs and customization are important considerations.

International adoption can also help AI developers build larger user communities, attract commercial partners and identify new revenue opportunities. But approval to deploy models globally does not guarantee that foreign customers will adopt them at scale. Developers must still compete on performance, cost, reliability, technical support, and the availability of computing infrastructure.

The invitation for other Chinese open-source model developers to follow DeepSeek and MiniMax also points to the possibility of a broader industry-wide effort to secure permission for overseas deployment. If other companies obtain similar approvals, Chinese AI models could gain wider access to international markets, although the extent of that expansion will depend on the final regulatory framework and individual companies' commercial strategies.