China's Commerce Ministry has expressed strong opposition to proposed U.S. regulations about restricting the use of connected vehicles from China.

The regulations, proposed on Monday, also limit the use of software and hardware related to connected vehicle technology.

Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said in a press release on Wednesday that the U.S. has for years levied high tariffs on Chinese cars, barred them from participation in government procurement, and introduced discriminatory subsidy policies.

The U.S. side, citing the so-called "national security concerns," slanders Chinese vehicle technology and vehicles as potentially insecure, thereby imposing further restrictions on their use within the U.S., MOFCOM said.

MOFCOM added that the U.S. actions lack factual basis and violate the principles of market economy and fair competition, representing a typical case of protectionism. These actions have severely affected normal cooperation between China and the U.S. in the field of connected vehicles, distorting the global automotive industry supply chain, and will also cause detriment to American consumers.

Furthermore, the U.S. practices "constitute economic coercion, as they reflect an attempt by the U.S. government to interfere with business cooperation," MOFCOM said.

China urges the U.S. to stop generalizing national security, immediately withdraw the relevant restrictive measures and cease the unreasonable suppression of Chinese enterprises, the ministry added. China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, MOFCOM said.

(Cover via CFP. Gong Zhe contributed to the story.)