DeepSeek and MiniMax complete China's export registration for open AI models

What's going on

Chinese AI companies DeepSeek and MiniMax have completed an export registration process for their open-source AI models. The social media account "Yuyuan Tantian," which is linked to state broadcaster CCTV, announced this on October 22. MiniMax confirmed it the same day in its own statement: it has completed technology export registration with China's Ministry of Commerce. The registration covers some recently released or planned models and is meant for open-source release and deployment abroad.

Yuyuan Tantian wrote that after the policy announcement, DeepSeek and MiniMax successfully completed the registration and related steps for open-source release and overseas use. AI companies can continue their commercial activities "as usual," it said.

The planned export controls

Background: On October 16, the Ministry of Commerce proposed controlling exports in 23 AI technology areas, including models, AI agents and computing clusters (large networks of linked computers). The aim is to limit the transfer abroad of core technologies deemed security-relevant.

At the same time, most AI technology is meant to remain freely exportable. A simplified approval process is planned for exporting open-source technology and for Chinese companies operating their own data centers abroad. Yuyuan Tantian stressed that the revised list is not meant to block technology transfer across the board: the goal is not simply to restrict AI exports, but to draw clear boundaries.

In addition, services that rely on a restricted model but are offered as an API (application programming interface), web application or SaaS (software as a service) may be exempt from the controls.

Why open source matters for China

Chinese AI companies are gaining market share abroad, mainly thanks to low prices and the flexibility of their models. Unlike the closed models from US companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic, open models let developers modify them and run them in their own environments. According to the source, that is a competitive advantage.

Our take

The registration signals that Beijing wants control over strategically important AI technology, but doesn't want to choke off its companies' global expansion or open-source releases. For users outside China, that means new models from DeepSeek and MiniMax should keep coming, at least for now. Two things remain open: what the final rules will look like, since this is only a proposal, and how strictly the process will be applied to other companies. The information comes from a state-linked account and from MiniMax itself. The source gives no details on which models were registered.