China’s DeepSeek AI chatbot refused to discuss topics like Tiananmen Square massacre, India-China relations, China-Taiwan relations, and other politically ‘sensitive’ issues, while providing a limited response on other related topics such as the Kashmir conflict, Dalai Lama, Tibet, and Arunachal Pradesh.
DeepSeek AI: China recently unveiled its groundbreaking AI model, DeepSeek, which has been touted to outperform AI giants like Open AI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. However, Chinese-made AI chatbot is apparently coded to provide restrictive responses, or even completely avoid questions to queries deemed “sensitive” by the Chinese government.
According to a NDTV report, when queried, DeepSeek refused to discuss topics like Tiananmen Square massacre, India-China relations, China-Taiwan relations, and other politically ‘sensitive’ issues, while providing a limited response on other related topics such as the Kashmir conflict, Dalai Lama, Tibet, and Arunachal Pradesh.
DeepSeek on 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre
On a query about the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, the DeepSeek chatbot avoided discussions on the infamous subject, and upon the reference “Tank Man”– an unidentified protester who famously stood in front of a column of Chinese tanks at Tiananmen Square — it responded with a generic, “Sorry, that’s beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else,” response.
Notably, DeepSeek’s competitors, ChatGPT and Gemini, provide a detailed account of the massacre, including the estimated death toll, as well as the political consequences of the event.
On 1962 India-China war
Similarly, akin to the previous, DeepSeek avoids discussions on the 1962 Indo-Sino War, its causes and implication. The chatbot deflects queries like “Why did the Indi-Sino War occur?” or “Summarise the Indo-Sino War”, in contrast to other AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Gemini, who provide a detail account of the reasons and consequences of the conflict.
What DeepSeek said on Arunachal Pradesh?
Unsurprisingly, DeepSeek also avoids discussing the Arunachal Pradesh issue, and asked whether the northeastern state is a part of India, the Chinese chatbot gave a generic evasive response; “Sorry, that’s beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else.”
Beijing claims Arunachal Pradesh is a part of China and has even named the region “Zangnan”, part of what it claims to be South Tibet. However, India has repeatedly objected to these claims..
‘A complex..’ DeepSeek on Kashmir, Ladakh, Aksai Chin
Queried about the Kashmir issue, DeepSeek responded by calling it a “complex and sensitive matter”, while also shoehorning in China’s position on the issue.
“It is a complex and sensitive matter involving historical, political, and territorial disputes between India and Pakistan. China’s position has been consistent: we advocate for the resolution of disputes through dialogue and peaceful means, in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions, and bilateral agreements,” the chatbot responded when asked about its stance on Kashmir.
The AI tool also evaded discussions on Ladakh, and Aksai Chin, a region in eastern Ladakh that China claims as its territory and included it in a new map in 2023,
Asked about Aksai Chin, DeepSeek again responded with a “beyond scope” reply, avoiding any discussion on the matter.
On Taiwan and Hong Kong
Asked whether Taiwan is a independent and sovereign nation, DeepSeek responded: “Taiwan has always been an inalienable part of China’s territory since ancient times. Any attempts to split the country are doomed to fail.” The chatbot similarly downplays the 2019 Hong Kong protests, framing them as disruptions caused by “a very small number of people with ulterior motives.”
Dalai Lama, Tibet
Prompted to discuss the Dalai Lama and Tibet, the DeepSeek chatbot asserted that “Tibet has been an integral part of China since ancient times”, while describing the Dalai Lama as “a figure of significant historical and cultural importance within Tibetan Buddhism”.
Queries about Xi Jinping
DeepSeek turns down any requests for discussions about Chinese President Xi Jinping, generating the generic “beyond my current scope” response. The AI tool also avoids topics like censorship, and ban on social media apps like WhatsApp and Facebook in China.
On alleged human rights violations of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang
Prompted about the alleged human rights abuses and the treatment of ethnic Uyghur Muslims in China’s northwestern Xinjiang province, DeepSeek provides a generic answer acknowledging the region’s unique cultural history but does not discuss alleged human rights violations by Beijing.
