DeepSeek, a case for advocating cooperation between the US and China

A while back, I read something about the Movius Line (more info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movius_Line). I was so fascinated about this line and its profound implications. 

It was the recent buzz about DeepSeek, a China AI startup, that reminded me of this line.

- The Movius Line: A Historical Divide -

The Movius Line is an archaeological concept that divides regions where advanced stone tool technologies (like hand axes) were used from those where simpler tools were prevalent.

The reason behind the Movius Line is debated, but one interpretation is that regions with advanced stone tools (like hand axes) developed a deep understanding of physical materials, while regions with simpler tools relied more on organic materials like wood, reflecting a different but equally sophisticated approach to problem-solving.

Over thousands of years, traditional Chinese thinking emphasized harmony, resourcefulness, and adaptability—traits that align with China's modern ability to optimize existing technologies. In contrast, the Western tradition of individualism, competition, and innovation has driven breakthroughs in hardware development, such as semiconductors.

Therefore, the Movius Line is a line that basically demarcated two different ways of thinking and doing, which was the result of the physical environment in the two large regions. Ancient China represented one, while the other three ancient civilisations represented the other.

These two ways of thinking and doing are not mutually exclusive. Rather, they are complementary.

Today, China has retained its cultural heritage and identity. But after thousands of years of conflicts and changes, the west has changed quite a bit. Right now, it is the United States that represents the latest development. 

- Modern Parallels: Hardware vs. Software -

To connect this ancient divide with today’s AI development, especially since the rise of DeepSeek, we can see that stone tools have become today’s computer chips. The U.S.'s leadership in semiconductor innovation is without doubt. 

At the mean time, also in line with its ancient traits, and we should not be too surprised that China has developed the smartest way of using these chips, although its chip manufacturing is still lagging behind. Just to point out that DeepSeek did use Nvidia’s chips, those second tier ones (because the best ones are banned), to achieve its goals.

In short, the recent buzz shows how compatible these two sides are. Cooperation, not confrontation, could lead to mutually beneficial outcomes.

Unfortunately, due to geopolitical and ideological reasons, there are quite a few people who are hostile to China and they prefer words like “enemy”, “rivalry”, “Cold War”, “threat”, and so on, to describe their positions. 

Indeed, these words and “cooperation” are seemingly mutually exclusive. 

They also don’t believe China’s ability in technology, claiming that the rise of DeepSeek is due to the West’s control was not tough enough and there were loopholes for DeepSeek to get Nvidia chips.

But they overlooked at the historical trend that Chinese people have always been very good at utilising existing resources, which is precisely the point illustrated by the Movius Line. Just take a look at China’s high speed rail system or Huawei’s latest foldable phones. 

 - The Path Forward -

My two cents are: 

China: if cooperations are not fostered, if history has shown us anything, and if we consider Huawei has set a good example for China’s ability to develop tools, China will eventually achieve self-reliance in semiconductor manufacturing. 

Meanwhile, the trajectory for the West is: the internal fragmentation will exhaust their energy. The U.S. and Europe, once united in their approach to global challenges, now face diverging interests, such as in wars, trades and territories. No one knows who will prevail in the end as the winner.

Also, we are no longer living in ancient times, isolated from one another. The two ways of thinking and doing—represented by China and the West—have been in contact for centuries, although the process was a painful one for China.

In an interconnected world, cooperations will definitely lead to greater benefit for everyone.

If it were to become true, it might be designated as “a DeepSeek moment” in the future, signifying two opposing powers to work together to bring peace and prosperity.