China has issued a fresh security warning targeting Anthropic’s AI coding assistant, Claude Code. The move adds another chapter to the growing technology rivalry between China and the United States, where concerns over AI security are becoming as important as the race to build more powerful models.
China has warned users about what it describes as a serious security risk in Anthropic’s Claude Code. The alert came from a cybersecurity platform affiliated with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which claimed it had identified an alleged “backdoor” vulnerability in versions of the AI coding tool released between April and June 2026.
Chinese authorities allege that the affected versions could transmit user information, including location and identity data, to remote servers without users’ knowledge.
The country’s National Vulnerability Database advised organisations and developers to uninstall the affected versions or upgrade to the latest release, where the alleged issue has reportedly been removed. Anthropic has not publicly responded to the latest warning.
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The company has previously acknowledged testing mechanisms designed to detect abuse and prevent unauthorised access to its AI systems. An Anthropic engineer also said an earlier detection feature was part of an experimental anti-abuse measure and was later removed. The latest warning comes amid growing tensions between Anthropic and several Chinese technology companies.
In recent months, Anthropic accused Alibaba and other Chinese AI firms of attempting to extract or distil capabilities from its Claude models. Those allegations deepened an already strained relationship between the company and China’s AI industry. Alibaba has already responded.
The Chinese technology giant recently instructed employees to stop using Claude Code in the workplace, citing security concerns linked to the alleged backdoor risk. The company plans to replace the tool with its own internal AI coding platform.
The dispute reflects a much larger trend. Artificial intelligence has become another front in the technology rivalry between the United States and China. Companies are increasingly restricting access to advanced AI models while governments intensify scrutiny over foreign software and data security.
Security experts say allegations involving AI tools deserve careful investigation. At the same time, claims of hidden vulnerabilities often become part of broader geopolitical disputes, making independent technical verification especially important before drawing conclusions.
Whether China’s warning leads to wider restrictions remains uncertain. It does, however, show that competition in artificial intelligence is no longer focused only on model performance.
Trust, security and control are becoming just as important as intelligence itself.
About the Author
Marcel Chidozie is a tech analyst and writer covering foreign news, fintech, and emerging technologies at TechRegard. Based in Nigeria, He's passionate about translating complex tech developments into compelling, accessible stories for diverse audiences. His work focuses on how technology shapes innovation across Africa and globally.
