US President Joe Biden's administration has tightened export restrictions on semiconductors to China as part of its economic security measures.

The US Department of Commerce made the announcement on Tuesday.

In October last year, the US introduced new rules limiting Chinese access to advanced chips for artificial intelligence and their production equipment.
These chips could be used in the development of weapons of mass destruction and the latest military systems.

The US updated the rules and clamped down on some chips that American makers had developed that were outside the scope of the export controls. Some of these chips had been exported to China.
US manufacturers need to obtain a license from the government when exporting advanced chips to certain countries.
The department now says adding to the list of restricted countries will strengthen the controls.

The US has been curbing investment in China's advanced chip-related development and tightening controls with economic security in mind.

But the Biden administration has also been trying to stabilize bilateral relations. US Cabinet members have been visiting China since this summer in order to accelerate dialogue.

China has been critical of the stricter controls, calling them a malicious blockade that puts pressure on Chinese businesses.