Meanwhile the US certainly appears to consider API access to constitute a form of export so misunderstandings are understandable. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that China isn't currently restricting that form of export.

On this topic wrote a small book https://insanai.github.io/aiexportcontrols/

You can also download offline PDF at: https://insanai.github.io/aiexportcontrols/books/en/open-sou...

It also shows using game theory that export control leads to overall failure of both the sides.