DeepSeek and MiniMax Approved for Global Use of Their Models: A Go-Ahead Under the Export-Control Draft

What happened

The news comes from two posts by Yuyuan Tantian on social media: one on Thursday saying DeepSeek and MiniMax had won global-use approval, and one on Friday saying overseas internet users had urged other Chinese open-source large models to follow suit. Reuters noted that neither company immediately responded to requests for comment; the report did not say which authority granted the approval, nor its form, scope or conditions.

The backdrop is China's export-control draft published Oct 16, proposing controls on 23 AI technologies covering models, agents and computing clusters, including overseas deployment of models containing restricted technology. China's commerce ministry said at the time that most AI technologies would remain exportable, licensing for open-source technology exports would be simplified, and Chinese companies operating their own computing centers overseas could continue. The draft is in a comment period and is not yet a final rule.

Both companies had separate news the same week: Bloomberg reported on Oct 22 that DeepSeek closed a fundraising round of about 100 billion yuan, with CATL and Tencent among the largest investors, while MiniMax fell below its HK$165 IPO price in intraday trading the same day, the first time since listing. The approval news did not cite the fundraising or share-price moves as reasons, and the Reuters report did not tie the approval to specific model versions from either company.

Key facts

1. Source: Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with state broadcaster CCTV, said in a Thursday post that DeepSeek and MiniMax won global-use approval; Reuters reported it on Oct 23.
2. Follow-up post: in a Friday post, Yuyuan Tantian said overseas internet users had urged other Chinese open-source large models to follow suit.
3. Response: Reuters said neither DeepSeek nor MiniMax immediately responded to requests for comment; the report did not name the approving authority, form, scope or conditions.
4. Control draft: on Oct 16, 2026, China proposed export controls on 23 AI technologies covering models, agents and computing clusters, including overseas deployment of models containing restricted technology.
5. Commerce ministry position: most AI technologies would remain exportable, licensing for open-source technology exports would be simplified, and Chinese companies operating their own computing centers overseas could continue.
6. Same-week news: Bloomberg reported on Oct 22 that DeepSeek closed a round of about 100 billion yuan; MiniMax fell below its IPO price in intraday trading the same day.