Beijing on Friday urged Washington to stop overstretching the concept of national security and cease its discriminatory suppression of Chinese companies after US President Joe Biden ordered an investigation into the national security risks posed by Chinese-made "smart cars".

Biden said in a statement on Thursday that connected vehicles from China, including electric cars, "could collect sensitive data" and "send this data back" because these vehicles "could be remotely accessed or disabled". The investigation came shortly after Washington last Friday claimed potential national security threats from China-built cranes at US ports.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that Chinese-made cars are popular globally because their technological innovation and superb quality stand out from the fierce market competition, instead of from so-called unfair practices.

Mao also refuted the accusation that "China imposes restrictions on American autos and other foreign autos operating in China".

"China's door has been open to global auto companies, including US auto companies who fully shared in the dividends of China's big market," she said at a regular news briefing in Beijing.

The spokeswoman said that it is the US that has engaged in trade protectionism and set up obstacles including discriminatory subsidy policies to obstruct access to the US market by Chinese-made cars.

Mao noted that Washington's acts of politicizing economic and trade issues will only hinder the development of the US auto industry itself.

"China urges the US to respect the laws of the market economy and the principles of fair competition, stop overstretching the concept of national security, stop its discriminatory suppression against Chinese companies, and uphold an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment," she said.

In January, China exported 443,000 automobiles, up 47.4 percent year-on-year, maintaining the momentum of rapid growth, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn